Thousands of violent incidents towards teachers reported in Scotland over five years
New figures reveal more than 5,000 incidents of violence have been reported in Scottish schools in the last five years, resulting in hundreds of teachers needing medical attention.
Data obtained by the Scottish Conservatives through Freedom of Information requests shows 5,222 incidents were recorded between the academic years 2019/20 and 2024/25. Of these, 225 required staff to go to hospital or visit a GP. The true extent of the problem may be greater, as some local authorities do not respond to FOI requests.
The opposition party described the figures as “extremely worrying” and criticized the Scottish National Party’s approach to school discipline. Miles Briggs, the Scottish Conservatives’ education spokesman, said: “These deeply worrying figures show how teaching staff have been betrayed by the SNP’s soft approach to school discipline. No-one should fear being attacked in the workplace, but this is a horrifying reality for too many teachers and support staff.”
He added: “That’s why we’ve pledged to give headteachers the power to permanently exclude the most violently disruptive pupils from their schools. They know what’s best for their school, rather than unelected council officials. Our plans will restore much-need discipline to schools across Scotland.”
Mr Briggs also criticized the government, saying: “The SNP’s guidance on violence in schools is full of nonsense and they have failed to act on this issue for too long. This has left teachers, support staff and other pupils fearful they will be attacked next.”
The Scottish Government has been approached for comment on the findings.
More than four in five teachers (81 per cent) think the number of pupils displaying violent and abusive behavior is increasing, according to a 2025 survey by teaching union NASUWT.
The survey of more than 5,800 NASUWT members in the UK last year shows two in five (40 per cent) have experienced physical abuse or violence from students in the last 12 months.
A fifth (20 percent) of those surveyed said they had been hit or punched by students in the past year, while 38 percent said they had been pushed or beaten.
Nearly one in six (16 per cent) said they had been kicked by students, while 9 per cent said they had been spat at, according to the NASUWT survey.
One teacher surveyed said: “I had two children use a fire hydrant as a weapon. One on my head, the other on my foot.”
Another said: “This morning I was told: ‘Go die, I hope you die’.”
