Teacher attacks reach record high

Figures show there were 7,306 incidents against teachers

The number of violent and verbal attacks against teachers in Scottish schools has increased by a record 4.3%, new council figures show.

In the last year there were 4,608 physical attacks on teachers, the equivalent of one every 14 minutes of the school day in 2006/07.

The figures, released under the Freedom of Information Act, showed a total of 7,306 physical and verbal incidents.

Politicians and teaching unions called for greater curbs on unruly pupils.

Aberdeen had the highest total of physical incidents, racking up 761 during 2006/07.

Glasgow reported a total of 1,221 incidents of abuse, but just eight were deemed violent.

'Zero-tolerance'

In Stirling the figures increased from 18 incidents to 30, while in neighbouring Falkirk, they fell by nearly 100, from 191 to 97.

The Educational Institute of Scotland, the country's biggest teaching union, said there should be a zero-tolerance approach to attacks on staff.

A spokesman said "Any rise in the number of attacks on teachers is a matter of serious concern.

"There must always be a zero-tolerance approach when dealing with physical attacks on school staff."

A good start would be handing back control of our schools to head teachers, letting them decide whether or not unruly pupils should be permanently excluded from the classroom Liz Smith MSP

The annual figures for teacher assaults were stopped by the previous Scottish Executive who replaced it with a survey every three years.

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said that decision was now under review.

He said: "Definitions and reporting systems are variable and inconsistent and can make the collation unreliable.

"We want data to be comprehensive and consistent so that we understand the levels and seriousness of indiscipline in our schools."

The figures were obtained under a Freedom of Information request by the Scottish Conservatives, who attacked the government for no longer publishing them annually.

The Conservatives' schools spokeswoman Liz Smith MSP said head teachers needed more powers to tackle the rising levels of indiscipline in classrooms.

She said: "Once we have a handle on the situation, we can begin to tackle it.

"A good start would be handing back control of our schools to head teachers, letting them decide whether or not unruly pupils should be permanently excluded from the classroom."