NEARLY 400 violent incidents were recorded in Argyll and Bute Council’s schools in less than two years, figures have revealed.
A Freedom of Information request has also shown that by March 2026, the number for the 2025/26 school year was higher than the entirety of 2024/25.
There had been 200 recorded incidents of violence in 2025/26 by Wednesday, March 18, the day the Freedom of Information request was made.
A total of 176 were recorded during the previous year, data for the entirety of which was included in the request. The data related to primary and secondary schools.
One school, within the Oban, Lorn and the Isles administrative area, had a total of 56 violent incidents recorded during the timescale. More than half of those incidents took place between the start of the 2025/26 term and March 18.
Four other schools had more than 20 incidents recorded – two in Bute and Cowal, one in Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands, and one in Helensburgh and Lomond which had 31 recorded.
Violence in schools has come into the spotlight on a national scale recently, with a school in another local area telling of escalating violence which saw teachers and other staff being slapped and spat on.
In May, it was also reported that physical assaults on school staff in Scotland had increased by 55 per cent over two years in the 2024/25 term.
An Argyll and Bute Council spokesperson said: “We have around 10,000 learners across Argyll and Bute and dedicated staff in schools who work with them each day. Many of these incidents of dysregulation come from learners with a range of additional support needs.
“Keeping colleagues safe is a priority as well as supporting all learners to be safe and included, and we have a number of procedures and policies in place alongside ongoing training and support.
“We also work closely with our families, communities, unions as well as multi-agency partners in this regard.”
The data supplied from the Freedom of Information request found that the incidents were fairly evenly spread around Argyll and Bute.
Helensburgh and Lomond had 99 incidents in total, four more than were recorded in Bute and Cowal.
Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands had 92 incidents listed, while Oban Lorn and the Isles had 90, including the 56 which were in the same school.
