1. Rising incidents & daily occurrences
- In Aberdeen, violent incidents involving teachers surged 25% in the first quarter of 2025 – 928 reports compared with 740 in the same period the previous year.
- In Edinburgh, 72% of local union branches report daily aggression, including verbal abuse and physical assault, sometimes even from five‑year‑old pupils.
2. National statistics paint a grim picture
- Over 16,000 recorded assaults occurred in the 2023–24 school year, a threefold increase since 2021, equating to an attack roughly every four minutes.
- Across Scotland, figures indicate around 44,600 incidents in 2023, with roughly 210 daily assaults on school staff .
3. Who is most affected?
- A survey in Fife found that verbal abuse in schools rose from 8% in 2016 to 28% in 2023 for teachers, and physical violence in the classroom climbed from 3% to 12%.
- Female teachers face notably more physical abuse: 19% report being hit or punched, compared to 12% of male teachers; 22% of female teachers face daily verbal abuse—twice the rate of males.
4. Heavy toll on well-being & retention
- From 2021 to 2024, teachers took approximately 400,000 additional sick days due to stress and anxiety linked to violence, about 2,000 years’ worth.
- A Union of Secondary Teachers survey found 75% experienced aggression, 1 in 8 were physically assaulted, and only a third even report incidents – many feel unsafe, unsupported, and consider exiting the profession.
5. Calls for urgent action
- Unions urge consistent reporting, stronger support systems, more training (especially de‑escalation and Additional Support Needs), clear disciplinary procedures, and better teacher protection.
- The Scottish Government, led by Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth, has introduced a behaviour action plan and pledged national strategies, including a shift toward ‘high warmth and high standards’, but unions question whether it’s enough.
Final thoughts
Violence against teachers in Scotland is no longer a rare occurrence – it has escalated to a workplace safety crisis. With physical and verbal abuse becoming widespread, the impact on teacher health, retention, and overall school climate is profound. Short‑term fixes will not suffice; union leaders and educators are pressing for long-term systemic reforms: clearer reporting routes, better behaviour management, adequate staffing and training and genuine accountability for violent incidents.
If Scotland’s schools are to remain safe and effective learning environments, urgent action is required from policymakers, local authorities, and communities alike.