In response to survey results released by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) suggesting a quarter of school staff has had a false allegation made against them by a pupil, Teacher Support Network Chief Executive, Julian Stanley, said:

"Although these statistics are shocking, they are sadly unsurprising. In the last 12 months we have helped 143 teachers cope with the massive emotional challenges of facing accusations from pupils. The stress, anxiety and depression created, often exacerbated by unnecessary and prolonged suspensions, can be deeply damaging to a teacher's confidence and motivation, and already countless talented teachers have been driven from the profession.

"There must be far greater anonymity for accused teachers. The manner in which an allegation is initially handled can prevent an unnecessary escalation of mistrust and anxiety. Headteachers and local authorities must have had sufficient training to conduct a prompt and proficient investigation, and any police involvement must bring with it a calm perspective on how to proceed.

"We wholeheartedly support ATL's calls to prevent an automatic bar on accused staff members from contacting colleagues. Our experiences offering vital practical and emotional support to teachers in these situations have demonstrated that such restrictions can powerfully intensify feelings of isolation and make a return to work even more intimidating and difficult."