Schools in Scotland witness ‘exponential increase’ in pupil violence

Scottish teachers are reporting a massive increase in disruptive and abusive behaviour from the children in their classes. Photograph: David Jones/PA

Scottish schools are facing “an exponential increase” in pupil violence, with classroom behaviour deteriorating “massively” and absences outstripping England, according to teaching unions, behaviour experts and opposition politicians.

Headline figures from a forthcoming survey for the NASUWT union reveal 44% of Scottish respondents have experienced physical abuse or violence in the last 12 months while 90% had been verbally abused.