By Lucy Ashton
Soaring instances of violence in schools will drive out dedicated staff unless urgent action is taken, a trade union has warned.
The GMB this week said classroom assistants and other support workers were facing as much physical and verbal abuse as teachers – leaving many on the brink of quitting “the whiteboard jungle”.
This threat comes as headteachers will soon be encouraged to ban the use of mobile phones in their classrooms under new guidance set to be issued by Jenny Gilruth, the Education Secretary.
Instances of violence in and around schools which have been filmed and shared on social media by youngsters are soaring exponentially.
Many of the video clips remain on sites such as Facebook or YouTube for days before they are finally removed – traumatising victims even further.
GMB Scotland delegate Karen Dennis told the STUC congress in Dundee the level of threats and assaults endured by support staff was intolerable and demanded urgent action.
“They are working to give our young Scots the best possible education and life chances but everyone has a breaking point.
“Only urgent action and greater protection will stop many of our members reaching theirs.”
GMB members in Aberdeen recently called on the local council to provide improved training and reporting procedures months after staff in the Highlands called for similar action in the region’s schools.
Dennis added: “Pupil support assistants are paid less than teachers but are often bearing the brunt of abuse and violence.
“No one should be asked to leave for work fearing physical or verbal abuse and return relieved if they are unharmed.”
The union wants more rigorous reporting procedures to ensure every incident is recorded and a wider clampdown on verbal and physical abuse.
Dennis added: “More responsibility is being placed on our members to support some of the most challenging pupils but employers have failed to even properly record the threats and assaults.
“Our members are still waiting for official advice and guidance on how to deal with violent incidents, never mind effective and adequate protection.”
The STUC conference passed a motion on Monday that “deplores the fact that despite the long held right to a safe workplace, many workers continue to experience significant work-related violence and aggression”.
It comes as a poll found that an overwhelming majority of people do not want children to have access to smartphones in classrooms.
A survey by Norstat for The Times found that 90 per cent of voters believe pupils should either only be able to access their phones at break or lunch times or not have them in school buildings at all.
Almost 60 per cent said that pupils should only be allowed to use their phones during break time and at lunch time while 32 per cent backed a ban during all school hours.
Teachers and classroom assistants have complained for years that pupils’ access to smartphones disrupts the learning process in classrooms.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Scotland’s schools should be safe learning environments for all – violence and abusive behaviour towards pupils or staff is completely unacceptable.
“Work is well underway to bring forward a joint National Action Plan with COSLA to set out the range of actions needed at both local and national level, which we will publish in the coming weeks.”