What Can a Teacher Do if a Student Hits Them?

A teacher can use reasonable force to protect themselves - this is explicitly one of the lawful grounds for using force under Section 93 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006, alongside preventing injury to others, damage to property, or serious disruption.

In practice this usually means creating distance and breaking away safely rather than restraining the pupil, unless staying safe genuinely requires more than that.

The immediate priority is disengagement: step back, remove other pupils from danger if needed, and avoid escalating the situation further. Any force used must still be the minimum necessary, for the shortest time, and proportionate to the risk.

Afterwards, the incident should be reported and recorded through the school's normal process, and the teacher should expect - and ask for, if it isn't offered - proper support and a review of what happened.

Find out who has the legal power to use reasonable force in schools, or see our positive handling training for schools.