Rennie responds to “shocking” NASUWT school violence survey

Scottish Liberal Democrats today said teachers deserve to know that the government “has their back” after a new survey from the NASUWT showed that female teachers are more likely to be physically attacked by pupils than their male colleagues.

It comes as the Scottish Government also publishes a progress report on its action plan on improving relationships and behaviour in schools, which acknowledges that “there are concerns about the speed of progress”.

Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Willie Rennie MSP said:

“The misogyny, abuse and violence that teachers are telling us about is shocking.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats have uncovered that there have been over 24,000 violent incidents reported in schools in the months since the government’s action plan was published. It’s matching the trajectory of the record-breaking 40,000 reports of school violence that we now know were recorded last year.

“Pupils shouldn’t have to fear their classmates and teachers deserve to know this government has their back.”