“Deep cuts” in school staffing and lack of specialist support for pupils have been blamed for “a rising tide of indiscipline” in Scottish schools.
The comments from EIS general secretary Andrea Bradley come in the wake of a survey of almost 900 schools conducted by the teaching union. Almost two-thirds (63.2 per cent) reported violent and aggressive incidents taking place on a daily basis.
More than four in five schools (82.7 per cent) said they have incidents of violence and aggression every week.
The vast majority of schools (72 per cent) also said that violence and aggression had become more common over the past four years, compared with the levels seen before the Covid pandemic.
In the EIS survey, which was open for six weeks from mid-August and received responses from 875 school branches, almost 40 per cent of schools stated that prejudice-based violence had increased over the same period.
In its research the EIS defines violence and aggression as “any incident in which a person is abused, threatened or assaulted in circumstances relating to their work”. This definition includes verbal abuse or threats, including face-to-face, online and via telephone, as well as physical attacks.
It was in special schools that violent and aggressive incidents were most common: 90 per cent of special schools reported experiencing violence and aggression daily.
In primary schools the figure was 63.7 per cent and in secondaries, 56.9 per cent.
Violence in schools: ‘We are not very safe’
One respondent wrote: “We feel like we are not very safe and close to breaking when fully staffed, but we are never fully staffed and so we never feel completely safe. Many members come to school every day wondering if they will be hurt and if the children are safe.”
The EIS survey comes ahead of the publication of much-anticipated Scottish government research into behaviour in schools, due to be released next week.
The survey also follows well-publicised concerns about deteriorating behaviour, which prompted education secretary Jenny Gilruth to host a series of summits around violence in schools.
According to the EIS survey, in primary and special education, “physical violence towards a teacher” is the most common type of violence and aggression. In secondary schools, “intimidatory, obscene or derogatory verbal comments towards a teacher” is the most common form of violence and aggression.
Female teachers were at greater risk of violence and aggression and boys were the most likely perpetrators, the research shows.
Teachers, however, were also increasingly on the receiving end of abuse from parents and carers.
Just over half of school branches (50.5 per cent) responded that parent/carer-on-teacher violence and aggression was becoming more frequent.
The EIS survey report says: “Not only is parent/carer-on-teacher violence and aggression a significant issue, it seems to be getting worse.”
Ms Bradley said the survey revealed that violence and aggression was “a serious and growing problem in schools across Scotland”.
Policies of austerity and poverty, declining mental health and the impact of the pandemic had “combined to create a society where many young people feel alienated, isolated and distressed”.
She called for more support and resources in schools, including additional teachers and other professionals who provide specialist support.
Ms Bradley said: “In recent years, deep cuts to school staffing - particularly amongst specialist staff - have created a situation where too many young people are simply not receiving the support they so desperately need, are frustrated and alienated as a result, and consequently teachers are facing a rising tide of indiscipline, an increasing amount of it violent and aggressive in nature.”
