Violence in schools a ‘daily occurrence’

A union has called for a meeting with Aberdeen City Council after more than a quarter of teachers there reported suffering violent attacks in one year.

A survey of 3,000 members of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), part of an investigation led by the union into violence in the city’s schools, found 28 per cent of teachers reported being assaulted in the last academic year.

The most common form of assault was kicking, which occurred in 47 per cent of cases, followed by punching in 41 per cent of incidents.

Teachers also reported being bitten, spat on and hit with an object by pupils.

The research also found 57 per cent of teachers reported being assaulted in the past five years.

Nearly a fifth of teachers told the union that violence was seen as a “daily occurrence”.

Ron Constable, secretary of the local EIS branch, said: “Teaching staff should never have to go to their employment with the fear of being verbally or physically abused, but it is clear from this survey that 18 per cent of teachers are reporting that it is a daily occurrence in their schools.”

Aberdeen City Council said: “The safety of our teaching staff is of paramount importance to the council.”