EXCLUSIVE: THE HEARTBREAKING TWIST BEHIND THE CLASSROOM TERROR… She didn’t just teach these kids; she deeply loved working with children who had significant, complex issues.

CHEERFULLY welcoming her students into the classroom, Michelle Stone had no hint of the horror about to unfold.

Just hours later, an out-of-control pupil hurled a chair at the hard-working headteacher – an act of shocking violence that would change her life forever.

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Headteacher Michelle Stone was left with horrific spinal injuries after a pupil committed an act of shocking violenceCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
 

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Michelle was training in the gym before the horror assaultCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
 

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Michelle with a pupil in 2012, before another attacked her in 2019Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
The force of the blow left Michelle, 50, with horrific spinal injuries, broken ribs and a fractured collarbone, forcing her to end the career she had devoted her life to.

But Michelle’s experience at the special needs school in Lyndhurst, Hampshire, is far from an isolated incident, as the number of classroom assaults continues to soar.

Two in five teachers experienced violence from pupils between 2024-25, according to the latest figures from teaching union NASUWT.

The shocking data revealed they had been punched, kicked, shoved and even spat at by students. A startling 81 per cent said they felt the number of pupils showing violent and abusive behaviour has increased.

For Michelle, her dream job was snatched away in a split second, and she now faces a lifetime of chronic pain.

“I do feel sad that I am not back in school doing what I always wanted to do,” says the single mum-of-three from Bournemouth.

“I was very happy working with children with significant issues, and now I can’t.”

That morning in May 2019, a pupil with a known history of violent behaviour refused to enter class and, as he became more disruptive, Michelle stepped in to protect her colleagues.

At that moment, she was struck with the heavy, wheeled chair.

She says: “This child I was attacked by, we had a lovely relationship. We used to sit in a tree together and chat, but they were obviously in a huge red mist on this particular day.”

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After attending A&E, Michelle was sent home in a sling, with painkillers for broken ribs and a fractured collarbone.

But six weeks later and still in pain, Michelle collapsed and was admitted to the hospital for 10 days, after scans revealed damage to her spine.

‘Very dark place’

Until then, Michelle had been a headteacher for seven years – a job she loved.

“I come from a long line of teachers, and working with special needs children was my dream,” she says.

“I had a brother with special needs, who sadly passed away, and I wanted to pay back to the community and work with children that were less fortunate. Now I can’t do that anymore.”

Michelle says she went to “a very dark place” in the aftermath of the attack.

“I thought I had nothing left to give back to the community,” she says.

“I loved my job. I just felt that this was where I was meant to be.”

Michelle now lives with chronic pain and often requires a wheelchair.

The attack also caused her to develop Raynaud’s Disease – a condition that affects blood circulation and can be triggered by cold and stress.

She has undergone multiple medical procedures, including a lower spinal fusion op, and is now waiting for surgery on her neck.

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The teacher, above pictured on a Christmas outing in 2021, was forced to end the career she had devoted her life toCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
 

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Michelle went to ‘a very dark place’ in the aftermath of the attackCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
“There hasn’t been a day that I haven’t been in pain,” she says.

As well as the physical scars, she also suffers from ongoing psychological trauma, including anxiety and disrupted sleep. While she had counselling for six months, she was unable to afford it long-term.

Michelle believes more and more colleagues are leaving teaching as a result of physical and mental abuse and is calling for parents to “step up and be partners”.

She adds: “The incident psychologically hasn’t put me off working with children. It is the policies and the procedures surrounding it – the finger-pointing and the blame culture.

“Schools have somehow lost their ability to stand up for themselves and go, ‘We’re not accepting physical violence, but we’re equally not accepting verbal abuse’.”

Data released by the Department for Education in 2025 shows that around 41,200 full-time teachers left their jobs the previous year.

“They’re leaving because of the unrealistic expectations on them, from the government and parents,” says Michelle.

“There are children arriving in reception class that are not toilet trained – that is not right, that is very much a parental responsibility.”

There hasn’t been a day that I haven’t been in pain

Michelle Stone

Michelle says that after the attack, her own children – Toby, then 13, Molly, 10, and Maemie, seven – had to care for her. That in turn has taken a toll on their mental health.

“It hasn’t been easy,” she admits. “Molly, now 17, is totally burnt out because she has had to take care of her siblings and help me at home.

“It has significantly impacted her A-Levels and her future.”

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Michelle believes more and more colleagues are leaving teaching as a result of physical and mental abuseCredit: ITV
 

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Two in five teachers experienced violence from pupils between 2024-25, according to figures (stock image)Credit: Getty
Following the assault, Michelle’s legal team argued that the school failed to act on known risks, ignored repeated internal warnings and failed to respond appropriately to previous violent incidents.

Although the school – which has since changed ownership – denied liability, it agreed to a six-figure settlement, reflecting the devastating impact on Michelle’s health, wellbeing and career.

Michelle says: “This was a specialist school where every pupil had a range of additional needs. It’s important to make clear that staff were highly trained and experienced in managing challenging and often dangerous situations.

“But the behaviour of this particular pupil went beyond what we were equipped to manage safely.”

‘He grabbed my breast so hard it caused bruising’

Joanne Soccard, a solicitor specialising in workplace assaults says: “This is a deeply troubling case. Our client followed every procedure, raised concerns and asked for help – but the support simply wasn’t there.

“Schools must act on known risks and take responsibility before serious harm occurs, not after.”

Another former teacher says repeated physical and verbal abuse caused her to quit her dream job.

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Alice Scholz says repeated physical and verbal abuse caused her to quit her dream jobCredit: Jam Press/@teaandtimtams
 

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The former teacher was attacked in the classroom and had to deal with aggressive parentsCredit: Jam Press/@teaandtimtams
Alice Scholz was inspired to teach by her mother and dedicated years to the profession.

But she suffered several “distressing” incidents that caused her to reconsider.

The 31-year-old, who taught at a primary school, was attacked in the classroom and also had to deal with aggressive parents.

I feel really sad that the profession I once loved no longer feels right for me

Alice Scholz

“I’ve experienced both physical and verbal abuse during my teaching career, and some of it has been really distressing,” says Alice, who is originally from Australia but now lives in Windsor, Berks.

“I’ve been punched and scratched by students. More recently, while supporting a child who was trying to hurt his peers, he grabbed my breast so hard it caused bruising.”

Like many teachers, Alice has also been sworn at by parents, with some physically intimidating her and filming her at the school gates.

Sadly, she is far from alone, as last year a survey for school leaders’ union NAHT revealed that a staggering four in five (82 per cent) of its members were verbally or physically abused by parents. Nearly nine in 10 (86 per cent) said abuse had increased in the last three years,

“I feel really sad that the profession I once loved no longer feels right for me,” says Alice, who quit in December 2025.

“However, I also feel a sense of freedom now that I’m no longer carrying the constant pressure of the job.

“My parents and boyfriend had been encouraging me to get out for a long time because they could see how distressed I was and hated hearing about the verbal and physical abuse I was experiencing.”

Alice says she saw a stark difference between the education systems in Australia and the UK.

“Australia had a much better work-life balance and better pay, and there was far less pressure to constantly prove yourself,” she explains.

“While I’ve had plenty of moments where I’ve really loved working in the UK, the system itself has been exhausting and ultimately led me to burnout.

“It can be exhausting and damaging if the system doesn’t support you.”

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I feel really sad that the profession I once loved no longer feels right for me, says AliceCredit: Jam Press/@teaandtimtams