By Bill Heaney
Violent incidents have become so prevalent in schools that the Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth thinks it would be “an appropriate move” for a Council to respond to challenges of this kind by issuing a “whistleblowing form for teachers who feel that they are discouraged from reporting violent incidents by pupils”.
Ms Gilruth told Conservative education spokesperson Liam Kerr: “I understand that other local authorities use similar protocol in relation to incidents of that nature.”
Liam Kerr had asked: “ Does the cabinet secretary welcome that move, or does she have concerns?”
Another Conservative, Maurice Golden, asked what action the Scottish Government is taking to reduce the number of assaults by pupils in schools.
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, who is herself a former teacher, told MSPs: “I am absolutely clear that our schools should be safe and consistent learning environments for all. No teacher, support assistant or pupil should face violence in Scotland’s schools.
“The behaviour in Scottish schools research that was published in November 2023 provides a robust and accurate national picture in relation to behaviour in Scotland’s schools, and the series of behaviour summits that I held.
Jenny Gilruth, Maurice Golden, Martin Whitfield and Liam Kerr.
“In my statement to Parliament last year, I confirmed that the multiyear joint action plan would be developed, together with local authorities, trade unions and others, to tackle instances of challenging behaviour, and that plan will be published in the spring.
“This week, the First Minister [Humza Yousaf] and I launched the gender-based violence framework, which aims to address the issues of misogyny and gender-based violence in schools, a theme that was captured by BISSR.”
Maurice Golden said: “I was recently contacted by a constituent, who told me how her son required hospital treatment after being assaulted by a fellow pupil.
“Unfortunately, my constituent has been dismayed by the school’s response: the headteacher has twice declined to meet her personally; a proposed safety plan was full of holes; and, incredibly, it was suggested that her son be removed from his peers and educated separately while requests to exclude the alleged attacker were rebuffed.
“Does the cabinet secretary believe that that family are receiving the support that they need? What will she do to ensure that they get that support?”
Jenny Gilruth replied: “It would, of course, be a matter for the local authority to engage with the parent and the headteacher.
“Mr Golden has outlined a challenging instance, and it is worth reflecting that that is also captured by the BISSR that was published last year.”
SNP member Bill Kidd said: “We know that poverty and child hunger have a key impact on children’s behaviour at school. What is the Scottish Government doing to ensure that no child in Scotland goes to school hungry?”
Jenny Gilruth assured him: “We have the most comprehensive free school meal offer of any nation in the United Kingdom, and we are currently extending it to cover primary 6 and 7 children in receipt of the Scottish child payment from February 2025 as the next step towards universal provision in our primary schools.”
Labour’s Martin Whitfield asked when the Scottish Government last met the Educational Institute of Scotland and other teacher unions to discuss school-based violence.
He was told: “I meet our national teaching unions regularly to discuss a range of topics, including violence. I met the EIS and other teaching unions last Monday, and, on 31 January, I chaired a meeting of the Scottish advisory group on relationships and behaviour in schools to discuss the national behaviour action plan.
“That meeting was attended by the main teaching unions, including the EIS. I held a round-table meeting with the EIS and other teaching unions on 6 December to discuss their reflections on the national behaviour in Scottish schools research and their own views on actions that are required in the relationships and behaviour action plan.”
But Martin Whitfield was not content with her answer. He said the unions were disappointed that the Government was “desperately unaware” of one report on violence.
He added: “Some 800 teachers had responded. A national plan is coming forward. Can the cabinet secretary confirm that teacher wellbeing will be added as a quality indicator in school inspections, given the impact of violence on our teachers?”
Ms Gilruth said: “The localised evidence that Martin Whitfield has spoken to is hugely important in informing the national action plan, which will set out a range of actions for the Government to respond to, and also for local authorities. It is important that that is understood.
“I continue to engage with the EIS at the national level with Andrea Bradley and with the other teaching unions, a number of which have also published documentary evidence on the extent of challenging behaviour in our schools.
“Martin Whitfield asked a specific question about a quality indicator in school inspections. I think that that would be a matter for the newly appointed interim chief inspector. However, I am more than happy to speak to her about that process and about including that indicator in future school inspections for her consideration.”
Top of page: A bite mark on a teacher’s arm after he was attacked by a pupil.