FOI Request - Incidents of Violence and Aggression Towards Teachers
Request 101003757764
1. Can you please supply me with the number of recorded incidents of a) physical violence, b) physical aggression, and c) verbal abuse towards recorded during the 2012/2013 school year, and the same data for the 2022/2023 school year towards (i) teachers and classroom assistants and (ii) other school staff?
2. If possible, could you also provide information on how many individual pupils/students were involved in the total number of incidents?
3. Is it also possible for you to tell us your policy for sanctioning a pupil for each of the above behaviours? Or what the approach is for dealing with a pupil when such behaviour is presented?
Response 23-04-2025
1.
2014/15 | Physical Assault (No Weapon) | Physical Assault (Weapon) | Verbal Abuse/Threats |
Teachers | 140 | 23 | 12 |
Classroom Assistants | 18 | <5* | <5* |
Other School Staff | 252 | 44 | 6 |
Number of pupils involved | 70 | 29 | 15 |
2.
2022/23 | Physical Assault (No Weapon) | Physical Assault (Weapon) | Verbal Abuse/Threats |
Teachers | 472 | 211 | 302 |
Classroom Assistants | 43 | <5* | 10 |
Other School Staff | 1144 | 364 | 367 |
Number of pupils involved | 360 | 168 | 258 |
*the low numbers associated with this response may result in the identification of individuals. Therefore numbers between 1 and 5 have
been redacted and marked with <5 instead. This response is exempt under Section 38(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - personal
information
3. Every school has their own behaviour/relationship policy that they will work within, and some young people will have their own plans which will address any actions which would follow incidents of violence and aggression. Often this will be individualised to young people and settings where appropriate. Where appropriate, risk assessments will be completed and adhered to by all following a violent or aggressive incident. Every incident and every individual is considered uniquely rather than an overarching policy.