Union sets out teachers’ anger over violence

A TEACHING union is set to accuse the Scottish Government of a “complete abdication of responsibility” amid the lack of a national strategy on the physical restraint of pupils during classroom violence.

The NASUWT union will use its national conference this weekend to highlight the growing prevalence of violence in the classroom.

Dr Patrick Roach, the union’s general secretary, has said teaching staff are putting themselves at “considerable risk” trying to protect themselves and others from physical assaults.

At the conference, Scottish teachers will argue their safety and careers are on the line as they accuse the Scottish Government of being four years late with guidance on how teachers should handle situations where they feel compelled to intervene and physically restrain a pupil for their own safety.

Statistics published from a union survey last year showed four in 10 Scottish teachers reported experiencing violence or physical abuse in the previous 12 months, while 93% said the issue had increased.

Draft guidance published by ministers in 2020 said restraint should only be used as a “last resort to prevent harm, with the minimum necessary force and for the minimum necessary time”.

However, the Scottish Government’s pledge to publish more concrete guidance by the end of 2023 was not met.

At the conference, held in Harrogate, Scottish teachers will argue the lack of guidance has allowed local authorities to develop their own “disparate” and “inconsistent” policies.

Ahead of the motion, Dr Roach said: “This muchneeded guidance has been in the pipeline since 2020.

“Yet four years later, still nothing has materialised while teachers are currently experiencing increasing levels of serious disruption and violence in their schools.”