by BILL HEANEY
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP, right, has today asked the First Minister whether he will accept that the SNP’s approach to school violence is failing, as he published new figures showing that there were over 44,000 violent incidents in primary and secondary schools last year.
Scottish Liberal Democrats asked every local authority how many violent incidents had been reported in primary and secondary schools in 2025/26.
The figures show that across Scottish local authorities:
- There were 44,221 violent incidents reported in schools last year.
- This included 38,815 violent incidents in primary schools, higher than any of the previous years on record.
- It also included 5,406 violent incidents in secondary schools.
Speaking in the Scottish Parliament, Mr Cole-Hamilton said: “This week, Scotland’s schools break up for the October holidays, and many teachers will be at their wits’ end.
“New Scottish Liberal Democrat research, published today, shows that there were over 44,000 violent incidents in our schools last year.
“In primary schools, it’s the worst it’s ever been.
“In Fife, violence in those schools has more than quadrupled since 2018.
“So, what does the First Minister have to say to those teachers and pupils, going back to school in a couple of weeks, some of whom will be absolutely petrified of what awaits them?”
He added: “Police recorded knives in schools 127 times last year alone. The EIS have said safety in our schools is ‘the ticking time bomb in Scottish education, that is just waiting to go boom.’ I fear that is already happening.
“Pupils are struggling, teachers are struggling, which is why they need: more classroom assistants, more behavioural experts in schools, and more access to youth work.
“Liberal Democrats have been talking about rising levels of violence in our schools for years, we’ve offered solutions, yet still this is getting worse.
“Can’t the First Minister see that what he’s doing just isn’t working?”
You can find the full results of the Scottish Liberal Democrat freedom of information request to councils here.
Mr Cole-Hamilton’s written question on the number of incidents involving possession of a knife or bladed article recorded in schools can be found here.