Responsibilisation and acceptable verbal behaviour in schools: Teachers and leaders arbitrating the boundaries of swearing

•Swearing use is changing in society, becoming more acceptable in certain instances. Responses to swearing in the institution of education and social constructions of society have not.•The professionalism and responsibilisation of teachers and school leaders is a constructed discourse in society, supported and positioned by the educational institution itself.•Tensions exist for educators between societal expectations, policy intentions and their own expectations of being a respected and professional teacher/educator.