School Violence On The Rise

In 2023 some 757 incidents of abuse and/or violence were reported within the council’s education department.

The local authority’s official records show 79 reports of school staff being physically assaulted last year, resulting in injury.

A spokesperson for Scotland’s largest teaching union, the EIS, said: “Until recently, incidents of serious indiscipline and violence were comparatively rare in our schools, but there has been a marked increase in the number reported in the past few years.

“It is clear that the needs of children and young people are intensifying as a result of crippling poverty, poor mental health and the experience of the pandemic. These are all potentially contributory factors in some pupils exhibiting distressed or challenging behaviour. In instances where this behaviour escalates to violence, it must be dealt with swiftly and appropriately and in accordance with local authority policies.

“Consistency in the reporting of these incidents will be key to developing an accurate picture of the scale and complexity of the issue in our schools. Real solutions, including additional resources to meet rising additional support needs, must be forthcoming to ensure the safety of all in our schools and to improve the learning and teaching environment for students and staff alike.”

We asked the council what measures the it is taking to combat this alarming practice, and if it could break down the incidents by school.

A spokesperson for the authority 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.”