Teachers are driven to despair as pupils ‘rule roost’ in class

Staff punched ++ Disruptive kids as young as 7

PUPILS as young as seven are ‘ruling the roost’ in Scotland’s schools as a key SNP education policy hampers efforts to tackle a rise in classroom violence.

One teaching union has become so concerned at escalating levels of unruly behaviour since the return of pupils last month that it plans to take up the matter this week with Cabinet Secretary for Education Shirley-Anne Somerville.

It follows reports that experienced teachers are struggling to cope with even P3 classes in some schools, amid claims that youngsters have punched staff.

Teachers say many children might need professional help to become familiar with being back in a classroom environment, particularly those as young as seven whose education was hit by the pandemic within months of starting P1.

Yesterday the National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) said the Scottish Government’s ‘restorative’ approach – where a child who steps out of line is asked to reflect on their behaviour – is failing in many cases.

The union previously threatened strike action at one high school after multiple attempts at restorative conversation – introduced by the SNP in 2018 to cut the number of children being excluded – failed to stop pupils vandalising property and intimidating staff.

The union’s Scottish spokesman Mike Corbett said: ‘Some pupils don’t play by the rules any more. In some cases, these kids are not ready to learn in a mainstream class again following the pandemic. Restorative conversation can work for a child able to reflect on their behaviour. But there are loads of kids it doesn’t work for. When it doesn’t work, where do you go next?’

One Stirlingshire P3 teacher said she and other colleagues had been punched by pupils. She added: ‘I’ve never seen this level of disruption from so many at such a young age. It’s like they’ve forgotten the boundaries.’ Another primary school teacher in Lanarkshire said some teachers were ‘now on medication and struggling to cope’.

In May, NASUWT staff at Bannerman High School in Baillieston, Glasgow, threatened to strike after accusing managers of a lack of support following violent incidents.

Andrea Bradley, general secretary of the EIS union, said: ‘The pandemic has been challenging and stressful for many young people and this is clearly having an impact on the way some behave. It is essential that sufficient resources, staffing and specialist support are put in place.’

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘We have produced guidance for local authorities and schools to prevent exclusions and manage behaviour. It is for schools to decide what action to take.’