School heads must be given the power to expel violent pupils amid ‘horrific’ levels of classroom attacks, the Scottish Tories have said.
The renewed call for action comes after an EIS survey found more than a quarter of teachers in Aberdeen were assaulted in the past year, despite a bid to crack down on classroom thugs.
The Conservatives said it underlined the ‘violence epidemic’ across Scotland, and said heads – not council officials – should decide on permanent exclusions.
The survey of around 800 EIS members in the city recorded incidents including being struck by objects, kicking, biting and spitting.
Aberdeen City Council drew up an action plan to cut attacks on teachers in March 2024 after staff raised serious concerns.
But EIS branch secretary Ron Constable told the BBC yesterday that violence remained a major issue. He said: ‘We still have teachers experiencing, on a daily basis, objects being thrown at them and being pushed, punched, slapped, kicked and bitten.’
A survey found more than a quarter of teachers in Aberdeen were assaulted in the past year
SNP education secretary Jenny Gilruth last year published guidance on pupil violence that said exclusion should be a ‘last resort’
Scottish Tory education spokesman Miles Briggs said headteachers must be given the powers to tackle it an 'epidemic' of classroom violence
At least five teachers needed medical treatment each working day after being attacked in Scotland’s schools over the past six years, according to official figures.
Yet despite teachers reporting a surge in bad behaviour, not one disruptive pupil was permanently excluded last year.
When the SNP came to power in 2007, there were 164 expulsions that year.
SNP education secretary Jenny Gilruth last year published guidance on pupil violence that said exclusion should be a ‘last resort’.
EIS branch secretary Ron Constable teachers experienced objects being thrown at them and being pushed, punched, slapped, kicked and bitten on a daily basis
Scottish Tory education spokesman Miles Briggs said: ‘These horrific statistics underline the scale of the classroom violence epidemic under the SNP – and the urgent need for headteachers to be given the powers to tackle it.
‘Our proposal to give headteachers, rather than councils, the power to permanently exclude the most disruptive pupils must be adopted.
‘The situation in Aberdeen is being replicated across Scotland. While councils and SNP ministers wring their hands, terrified teachers are literally under attack. This is intolerable and cannot continue.’
An Aberdeen City Council spokesman said: ‘We look forward to meeting EIS colleagues to consider how best to respond to the survey findings.’ A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Exclusions remain an option for headteachers to use.’
