John Swinney condemns school violence after figures show rise in attacks

The First Minister spoke out after a trade union hit out at the dangers facing school staff

Violence in schools is “definitely unacceptable”, First Minister John Swinney has insisted, after a trade union suggested abuse had now become accepted in classrooms.

GMB said some school support staff were wearing protective clothing to work to deal with physical abuse from pupils.

The union said data it obtained through freedom of information requests showed a 20% rise in assaults and abuse in schools last year.

GMB said there was a “dramatic escalation in violence and threatening behaviour” in schools across Scotland, including Glasgow where the number of incidents rose by 30% in 2024 to 6,081.

In Shetland, 1,794 incidents were recorded involving council staff, up 81% on 2023. In Stirling there were 836 violent or threatening incidents in schools, up 16%, the data shows.

“Many support staff no longer get ready for work but ready for trouble,” GMB Scotland’s Keir Greenaway said.

He told the Daily Record: “Our members are being hurt and abused on a scale that would be absolutely unacceptable in any workplace. Any workplace, apparently, but our classrooms.

“Many support staff tie up their hair to stop it being pulled and they are wearing long-sleeved, protective vests beneath their clothes to protect them from scratches and bites.

“That is the daily reality for many of our members whose fears have been ignored for years while the authorities wring their hands but do little more.”

Asked about the comments, the First Minister said the Government was working with councils and unions to protect school staff.

He told the PA news agency: “Violence is completely unacceptable in any part of our society and most definitely unacceptable in our schools.

“So the Government has in place the guidance that we worked on with trade unions and with local authorities to protect staff and pupils in our schools.

“Our schools should be safe places of learning and of work for individuals, and I want to make sure that guidance is followed, and we work collaboratively with trade unions and with local authorities to make sure that’s the case.”

He added: “Trade unions and teachers have worked with the Government in producing the guidance that’s now in place to ensure that schools are safe, that violence is not tolerated, and that the appropriate measures are in place to tackle violence in our schools where it is completely unacceptable.

“Those measures are in place and the Government will work with trade unions and local authorities to make sure that’s the case.”

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