Teachers in Aberdeen are living in fear as a result of escalating pupil violence in schools, with some reporting traumatic experiences and recurring nightmares. The EIS union is calling for urgent intervention by Aberdeen City Council to address the issue and support staff. An EIS survey of nearly 800 members in the city found that almost half reported violent pupil behavior in school every day, and more than a third said they had been physically assaulted.
Three teachers spoke to BBC Scotland News anonymously about their experiences, with one teacher describing the situation at her school as the worst she had seen in her 20-year career. Another teacher described having to evacuate her classroom several times in one week due to pupils’ behavior, including throwing books and toppling furniture. The union also claimed that incidents were being underreported, and that the use of school exclusions was “frowned upon” by the local authority.
According to Ron Constable, joint secretary of the Aberdeen EIS branch, the measures put in place by Aberdeen City Council are not working, and there is drastic underreporting of violent and abusive incidents in schools. He warned of “collective grievances” being presented if the problems were not taken seriously.
Two years ago, teachers at Northfield Academy in Aberdeen voted in favor of industrial action over pupil violence against staff, although this was averted after meetings with the council. The council’s education convener, Martin Greig, stated that any misbehavior in schools is unacceptable and that the authority would consider all feedback from staff. He also emphasized the importance of creating a safe and respectful environment for everyone involved in the life of a school.
The council is working to support staff and ensure that behavior in schools is monitored, with policies and procedures in place to make sure staff are as safe as possible. However, there is a need for additional action to address the escalating violence and provide a safe environment for all. The historic background of this topic includes a previous vote for industrial action at Northfield Academy and ongoing efforts by the EIS to address the issue of pupil violence in schools.