Ministers have hit back at suggestions bad behaviour in Scottish schools is at an all time high.
John Swinney, the Education Secretary, said surveys showed discipline was improving and exclusions were at an all time low.
The comments came after a teachers’ leader said bad behaviour was at record levels – partly because pupils no longer believed they would face consequences for their actions.
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Kevin Campbell, president of the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association (SSTA), went on to blame the impact of poverty and budget cuts for mounting cases of teacher abuse, drugs and violence.
Mr Swinney said: “There will be examples of behaviour that is unacceptable and that is where we have to have in place effective strategies to support the profession and to address that behaviour.
“But I see in schools some very good practice where restorative approaches result in young people becoming engaged and fulfilled by their education once again.
“That matters to me because if we can overcome some of the examples of indiscipline and get them into a place where they get value out of their education then they are likely to contribute to our society in later life.”
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Last month, a survey by the SSTA found verbal abuse had affected seven out of 10 staff members while one in five said they had been assaulted during their career.
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In December, research by Ipsos MORI Scotland found low level school disruption was getting worse with teachers blaming social media and poor parenting. The majority of pupils were well behaved.
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