EXCLUSIVE: Teacher attacked by pupil fears 'disaster' if rising violence in schools isn't stopped
We revealed yesterday how there's "great concern" over an increase in attacks on school staff in Highland, Moray and Aberdeenshire over recent years.
Last updated 17th Jan 2024
A teacher working within the MFR area dreads it may take a "very bad incident" before action is taken on rising violence in schools.
We revealed yesterday how there's "great concern" over an increase in attacks on school staff in Highland, Moray and Aberdeenshire over the last five years.
We're now hearing from a recent victim of sustained attacks from one pupil that a good day for fellow teachers is when they're "just sworn at", as opposed to being hit or kicked.
"I've been bruised in the face and the shins several times"
Our Freedom of Information (FOI) request shows Moray has seen a 214% increase in incidents over the last 5 years, while Highland has also experienced attacks more than trebling in that period.
In Aberdeenshire, attacks using a weapon have increased from 6 in 2017-18 to 28 in the last school year.
In the case of Highland, the Local Authority has also offered a suggested reason behind the increase in overall reported attacks.
They say 2022-23 saw more "distressed behaviours" following return to school post covid.
Speaking to us anonymously, a teacher within this station's area recalled recent attacks inflicted on her by a pupil who she says had particular needs which weren't being met.
She said: "I was punched, I was kicked. He would throw tables, chairs, objects.
"I was hit several times by objects. I was hit deliberately with a musical instrument.
"He was also a climber, quite a young child, so he’d be up on units and things.
“If he could get a hold of anything he’d be throwing things from a height as well.
“I’ve been bruised in the face and in the shins several times from that particular child, but I've witnessed lots of other things as well."
"I dread to think what's going to happen"
The teacher explained how bad the situation currently is and how one colleague was "lucky" not to have been stabbed.
She added: "I do know of people that are going into their work every day and a good day for them is when they’re just sworn at rather than being hit or kicked.
“I know people who are off because of it, I know of people who are very worried because of it, because we’re not actually able to teach properly.
“She was lucky she wasn’t stabbed by a child grabbing a knife and that was in a Primary school.
“So I dread to think what’s going to happen
“At the end of the day, our staff are not safe and children are not being taught properly and their needs are not being met.
“I think it could just be a real disaster in the long run.
“It might take a very bad incident to happen before something actually happens to help these children."
"Action plan" to address violence in schools
The teacher feels the Scottish Government must pay attention to concerns from the profession.
She said: "They don’t listen to teachers enough. That’s the problem. If they would actually listen to teachers more and say ‘right what do we need to do’.
“It would actually save money in the long run, because I think they’re ploughing money into the wrong things and not actually looking at what the problems are."
The Scottish Government say they're bringing forward an action plan which will tackle issues at a local and national level.
A spokesperson said: "Scotland’s schools should be safe learning environments for all – violence and abusive behaviour towards pupils or staff is completely unacceptable.
“The Education Secretary has been clear that more needs to be done to address incidents of behaviour, which is why the Scottish Government is bringing forward a National Action Plan - this will set out a range of actions needed at both local and national level.
"We are committed to working with local authorities, teachers and trade union partners on the development of this plan.”
Mandatory training for staff
A Highland Council spokesperson said: “Councils have a legal requirement to include pupils with needs in mainstream school settings with their peers (Education Scotland Act 2000).
"Where staff feel threatened or are harmed, we meet our duty of care with relevant review of protocol and planning around support requirements, including revisions to behaviour support planning.
"We record incidents via the pupil incident system and analyse this regularly for trends with staff advising managers and head teachers on interventions required.
“The increase in incidents for 2022/23 is in part due to more distressed behaviours following return to school post Covid-19 pandemic, and a new reporting system where staff are able to record incidents as they occur.
“Corporate wellbeing policies and procedures are also available to staff to support their needs and can also include support through our education psychology team.
"Staff have to complete mandatory training along with refresh training including ‘de-escalation training’, which effectively are strategies to avoid situations with pupils, developing toward a situation where they may become overanxious and unable to regulate their behaviour.
“There is also mandatory training on neurodevelopmental differences which equips staff with outline information on the needs of pupils who may have autism/attention deficit/communication needs. Where risk is identified as being significant in relation to a pupil, ASN staff can be CALM trained which includes non-physical and physical interventions to de-escalate situations.
“We do not comment on individual staffing or pupil matters. We work regularly with unions on staffing concerns.”
Head of Education for Aberdeenshire Council Susan Smith said: "We know the vital contribution all of our staff make on a daily basis, improving standards in our schools and keeping our young people safe.
“As an employer we take the responsibility of keeping our staff safe extremely seriously.
“Assault and verbal abuse is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
“We continue to work with schools and individuals to provide the right support for them to thrive in the workplace, just as we strive to ensure that our children and young people have the opportunity to thrive too."
A Moray Council spokesperson said: "We acknowledge there has been an increase in disruptive behaviours within our schools and considerably so post-covid.
"Violent and abusive behaviour towards pupils or staff is completely unacceptable and we have robust policies in place to support individuals in the event of any incidents.
"Additional support is being provided for schools and staff where we are seeing increases in violent incidents within individual settings.
"However, while there is an emerging identification of a medium to long term consequence of Covid being seen in our schools it is possible this is not yet being fully recognised as a wider societal issue."