There were more than 650 violent incidents recorded in Dumfries and Galloway primary schools last year, shock new statistics have revealed.
These events in the classroom and playground are six times higher in the region’s primary schools compared to secondaries.
The figures have alarmed North West Dumfries Councillor Paula Stevenson, who said that “every incident is unacceptable and has a mental and physical toll on those involved”.
Councillor Stevenson obtained the statistics for incidents of physical violence from April 1, 2022 until March 31 this year, and has highlighted them in a special motion which will be discussed at the full council meeting today.
According to the stats, there were 662 physical violence incidents in primary schools out of a total population of 10,060.
This equates to a rate of 0.066 incidents per pupil.
The rate at high schools is just 0.010 because there were only 80 violent incidents recorded out of a population of 8,277 pupils.
Councillor Stevenson’s motion reads: “No child, young person or staff member at our schools should suffer from either physical or mental abuse and should not be harmed in anyway.”
It then asks councillors to affirm this and note the negative impact it will have on pupils and the teaching profession, especially in relation to recruitment, retention and mental health.
Councillor Stevenson’s motion, which has been seconded by her Labour colleague Carolyne Wilson, also underlines that detailed evidence gathering on these types of incidents within schools has not been carried out since 2016.
The Scottish Government has acknowledged that this has become a national issue with areas all over Scotland reporting that pupils being attacked and assaults on teachers are on the rise.
This has been linked to mental health issues experienced by youngsters in the aftermath of the pandemic.
Last month, education secretary Jenny Gilruth confirmed that the Scottish Government will hold a new summit focused on tackling violence within schools, but no date has been announced.
In her council motion, Cllr Stevenson is seeking for Dumfries and Galloway Council to press the Scottish Government on holding the summit “with the upmost urgency”.
The council would also demand that all education staff, unions, parents and children are equally heard, while seeking acknowledgement that the increase in violent incidents has arisen in the aftermath of Covid-19, various lockdowns, and the cost of living
crisis.
The full council meeting takes place in the council headquarters in English Street, Dumfries, from 10.30am
today.
