Around nine staff are physically or verbally abused in Perth and Kinross schools every day

Around nine staff are physically or verbally abused in Perth and Kinross schools every day, according to a report by the Daily Record. The trade union GMB Scotland has raised concerns about the escalating situation, describing it as reaching “crisis level”. GMB organiser Vicki Leonard has called for urgent action to address the violence in schools. It has been revealed that on a daily basis, approximately nine staff members in Perth and Kinross schools face physical assaults or verbal abuse.

The situation is even more concerning as GMB Scotland suggests that the reported incidents are just “the tip of the iceberg”, with many incidents going unreported, unrecorded, or uninvestigated. A recent survey conducted by GMB Scotland showed that two-thirds of incidents involving school support staff, such as pupil support assistants and janitors, are never formally recorded. Additionally, three-quarters of victims who did report incidents received no feedback on the matter. The survey also highlighted that 68% of staff feel that the situation has worsened in the past three years.

Furthermore, the survey indicated that almost half of the staff members surveyed do not believe that local authorities take the issue seriously, and a significant majority lack training in de-escalating potentially violent situations. GMB organiser Vicki Leonard emphasised the need for all incidents to be properly reported, investigated, and addressed to create a safer work environment for school staff.

Perth and Kinross Council has responded by stating that the safety and wellbeing of both students and staff are top priorities for the council. They have implemented training for school staff to prevent and de-escalate challenging behaviours. The council encourages all staff members to report any incidents of distressing or aggressive behaviour, with a dedicated online platform for reporting. The council also highlighted that less than one per cent of students are involved in incidents reported by staff.

In conclusion, the concerning levels of violence and abuse faced by school staff in Perth and Kinross schools underscore the urgent need for action to address this crisis. Both support from local authorities and comprehensive training for staff are essential to ensure a safe and respectful working environment for all in the education sector. Staff members should feel empowered to report incidents and have confidence that these incidents will be appropriately addressed to create a conducive learning environment for everyone involved.