Thousands of violent incidents in direction of academics reported in Scotland over 5 years | EUROtoday

More than 5,000 violent incidents have been reported in Scottish faculties over the previous 5 years, with lots of of academics requiring medical consideration in consequence, new figures reveal.

Data obtained by the Scottish Conservatives via Freedom of Information requests reveals 5,222 incidents have been recorded between the 2019/20 and 2024/25 educational years. Of these, 225 required workers members to attend hospital or go to a GP. The true scale of the issue could also be increased, as some native authorities didn’t reply to the FOI requests.

The opposition celebration described the numbers as “deeply alarming” and criticised the Scottish National Party’s method to highschool self-discipline. Miles Briggs, the Scottish Conservatives’ schooling spokesman, said: “These deeply alarming figures show how teaching staff are being betrayed by the SNP’s soft-touch approach to school discipline. Nobody should fear being assaulted in their workplace, yet that is the appalling reality for far too many teachers and support staff.”

He added: “This is why we have pledged to give headteachers the power to permanently exclude the most violently disruptive pupils from their school. They know what is best for their school, rather than unelected council officials. Our plans would restore some much-needed discipline to Scotland’s schools.”

Mr Briggs additional criticised the federal government, saying: “The SNP’s guidance on violence in schools is full of waffle, and they have failed to act for too long on this issue. That’s left teachers, support staff and other pupils fearing they will be next to be attacked.”

The Scottish Government has been approached for remark concerning the findings.

More than 4 in 5 (81 per cent) academics really feel the variety of pupils exhibiting violent and abusive behaviours has elevated, based on a 2025 ballot by the NASUWT educating union.

The survey, of greater than 5,800 NASUWT members within the UK final yr, suggests two in 5 (40 per cent) have skilled bodily abuse or violence from pupils within the final 12 months.

A fifth (20 per cent) of respondents mentioned they’d skilled being hit or punched by pupils within the final yr, whereas 38 per cent mentioned they’d been shoved or barged.

Around one in six (16 per cent) mentioned they’d been kicked by pupils, whereas 9% mentioned they’d been spat at, based on the NASUWT ballot.

One instructor who responded to the survey mentioned: “I have had two children use a fire hydrant as a weapon. One at my head, another to my foot.”

Another mentioned: “This morning I was told to, ‘go die, I hope you die.’”