**National Emergency Declared as School Staff in Scotland Enduring Shocking Levels of Violence from Pupils**
A “national emergency” has been declared as school support staff in Scotland are facing alarming levels of violence from pupils, according to a report by the GMB union. The union has revealed disturbing data obtained through Freedom of Information laws, highlighting a surge in attacks on non-teaching staff. The latest figures uncovered by the GMB, supported by the results of a staff survey, show a staggering 3,200 incidents of violence or threatening behaviour against school staff in Ayrshire alone last year.
This revelation echoes the findings of a Daily Record campaign, shedding light on the harsh reality of violence against teachers and students in schools. The alleged inaction of the Scottish Government in addressing this issue has only served to exacerbate the situation. In response, the GMB is launching its own campaign to facilitate immediate reporting of violence incidents, believing that the reported figures are just the tip of the iceberg.
According to the data obtained under FOI legislation, school staff in various councils reported high numbers of violent incidents, with Ayrshire recording 3,200 incidents, Borders Council 1,012, West Dunbartonshire 844, and Stirling 718. Claire Greer, GMB Scotland organiser, expressed concern that councils are downplaying the severity of the emergency, as many school workers, including pupil support assistants, are not actively encouraged to report every incident.
A survey conducted among GMB members revealed that two-thirds of incidents go unrecorded, and three-quarters of victims receive no feedback when reporting an incident. Greer stressed the urgent need for proper reporting, investigation, and action on incidents of violence in schools. She emphasised the traumatic impact on staff who are expected to return to work despite experiencing such distressing incidents.
Amidst the escalating crisis, the Scottish Government’s response has been criticised, with a teacher who was attacked branding it a “talking shop.” Teachers’ union NASUWT highlighted a culture of delays and lack of action within the government regarding school violence. A summit on school violence organised by Cabinet Secretary Jenny Gilruth was criticised for yielding minimal results, with little improvement seen on the ground.
In light of these challenges, the GMB Scotland is set to launch a new campaign allowing school staff to report violence promptly. Posters with QR codes linking to reporting pages will be displayed in schools across six council areas initially, before being rolled out nationally. The union aims to ensure that education authorities promptly record and investigate reported incidents. A survey of nearly 800 school support staff revealed that a majority believe the crisis has worsened in the last three years, with concerns raised about the lack of training in de-escalating potentially violent situations.
These concerning figures paint a grim picture of the situation faced by school support staff in Scotland, with violence and threats becoming all too common in educational settings. Urgent action is needed to address this crisis and ensure the safety and well-being of staff and students alike.