West Cork primary school principal Dr Paul Stevens has carried out the first comprehensive nationwide study of workplace bullying among primary school principals.

His research reveals that two in five primary school principals endure workplace bullying. This finding confirms earlier ESRI research, which found educational institutions have the second highest incidence of workplace bullying, after the health sector.

According to Dr Stevens’ study, the main group responsible for bullying principals is other teachers or deputy principals, followed by parents and members of boards of management.

The bullying takes various forms from shouting and abusive language to ignoring requests, criticism, ridicule and rumour, and undermining the principal's work.

Key causes of bullying of principals by teachers are:

• the implementation of policies (25pc);
• requesting teacher documentation (23pc);
• addressing teacher professional competence (17pc);
• disappointed competitors for the post of principal. 

The three most common reasons for bullying by parents are:

• displeasure at principal’s decisions (33pc);
• issues concerning pupil discipline (15pc);
• criticism of educational provision (15pc).

Dr Stevens said that, for many principals, schools do not provide a safe working environment in which they can discharge their professional duties and lead school communities effectively. Instead, schools are often places where principals are challenged by a wide range of negative behaviours and where fear, anxiety and isolation are not uncommon.

As a direct result of bullying, principals experience:

• anxiety (67pc);
• loss of self-confidence (52pc);
• lack of sleep (57pc);
• depression (29pc);
• serious ill-health (8pc);
• suicidal thoughts (3pc).

"Of serious concern also is the finding that 47pc of bullied principals experience isolation. This is not surprising as the study has already shown how principals are frequently bullied by those with whom they work closest," Dr Stevens said.

While principals are eager to resolve workplace bullying disputes, the great majority of them believe the current system for doing so is grossly ineffective. And some principals are afraid to report bullying lest they appear ‘weak’ or ‘unable to do their job’. As a result, principals are reluctant to use the formal procedures in place in case their situation is worsened, and most fall back on family, friends and colleagues for support. 

Dr Stevens - who is continuing his research with the School of Education at Trinity College - warned that the issue must be tackled immediately. Otherwise, "this menacing and destructive aspect of principals' workplaces will continue to undermine their professional role, be injurious to their health and emotional well-being, negatively influence their personal lives and have long-term damaging consequences for school communities in general", he said.