Huge increase in violent incidents in Glasgow schools

The data, which was obtained by Glasgow Labour via FOI, suggests that the city’s schools are on track to experience even more violence this year.

The Labour group is calling for action to address the problem and expressed “serious concerns” about the safety of staff and pupils.

Schools across Scotland, and in many other countries, have struggled with increased violence and aggression aimed at teachers in recent years.

Data released by Glasgow CC shows number of violent incidents, which includes instances of physical and verbal aggression, in the city’s schools going back to 2017/18. Over that period, violence incidents have increased by almost 180%, jumping from 2,611 in 2017/18 to 7,271 in 2025/26.

The release also confirms that a total of 2,491 incidents have already been reported since schools returned in August, suggesting that Glasgow’s schools are on track to experience even more violence during the current academic year.

The figures released by the council reveal that teachers are the most likely to be subject to violence and aggression in schools, followed by Support for Learning staff, and then school pupils.

Violent incidents involving the use of a weapon have also significantly increased over the past decade. In 2017/18, Glasgow City Council recorded 45 such incidents, but in 2025/26 the figure stood at 126. This was the same as the previous year, but slightly below the figure from 2023/24.

The council refused a request to specify the number of violent incidents specifically involving a bladed weapon, stating that this information is not held.

In addition, Glasgow City Council refused to provide information on violent incidents broken down by school, claiming that to do so would be too expensive.

Despite the seriousness of many violent incidents, council officials also stated that they do not know how many times the police or ambulance service were called to schools in response. They were also unable to state the number of staff who required medical treatment following a violent incident. In all three cases, the council advised that its Health and Safety system does not include a “reportable field” for capturing this information.

Glasgow City Council was able to provide information on the number of pupils suspended from school for violent incidents, although the figures only go back to 2021/21. Last year, 461 pupils were excluded from school under circumstances related to fighting, physical assaults against pupils or staff (with or without weapons or improvised weapons), spitting, threats of physical or sexual violence, and threats to personal property.

Paul Cochrane, Vice President of the Scottish Secondary Teachers Association (SSTA), raised significant concerns about the council’s data collection, and insisted that violence in schools must be taken more seriously:

"The fact that Glasgow does not collect accurate data on the use of bladed weapons that can kill or seriously wound staff and pupils is unbelievable. They have a duty of care for their employees and pupils and to render themselves unable to detect trends in the use of knives is a severe dereliction of duty.

“Not keeping records on which incidents require medical treatment means that an incident of verbal abuse can be statistically equated to being stabbed. That is unacceptable, dangerous and, when you consider what has to be reported to HSE under the law, a very worrying aspect of Glasgow City Council's approach.

“Seeing an increase in nearly a decade of 178% in violent incidents,135% in teacher assaults and 180% in the use of weapons,   demonstrates that what SSTA members have been reporting over this period is true. There has been a significant increase in threatening and violent behaviour that does not get treated seriously by their employer. 

“The SSTA agrees with experts that being the victim, witnessing or being aware of violent and threatening behaviour in your workplace can traumatise teachers and pupils to the extent that they can become unable to operate in such environments. The reasons for these increases are multi factorial but it is vital that Glasgow City Council treat the protection and welfare of teachers, other staff and our children with a degree of rigour and seriousness that require a major change in approach."

READ MORE

• SSTA president warns school violence in Scotland is worsening
• Over 3000 incidents of violence reported by Edinburgh school staff

• EIS school violence data must be a wake-up call for Scotland

  ---

• A spokesperson for the EIS teaching union also demanded action to keep staff and pupils safe in schools:

“Glasgow City Council has a statutory responsibility to risk assess and take steps to ensure its workplaces are safe, including schools. However, the information obtained through a Freedom of Information request shows a clear picture of a level and frequency of violent incidents in Glasgow's schools that is completely unacceptable. Improved reporting procedures for violent incidents are welcome, though alone do not address the underlying issue, or negate from the corporate responsibility of Glasgow City Council to assess and mitigate risks.

“The EIS is clear that there is a legal obligation on any employer to report when a person was taken directly to hospital as a result of an accident or injury sustained at their place of work. There is no exemption made for schools within this legal obligation. However, information held by the EIS suggests that in many cases teachers seek medical attention outwith the school day.

“It is extremely unlikely that thousands of recorded incidents each year are unforeseeable. Indeed, the increasing number of Personal Injury Claims relating to violence, instructed by the EIS on behalf of its members across Scotland, evidences this. It is essential, in order to both assess and mitigate risk, as well as to ensure young people are best supported, that patterns of behaviour that present a risk of violence are identified, assessed and steps are then taken to support the young person whilst mitigating risk.

“Risks assessments must be carried out by competent individuals who are adequately trained, they must be adapted and updated as necessary following incidents, mitigations must be put in place and the appropriate information, training and support must be given to teachers. Although schools have a direct role in implementing this, the ultimate legal responsibility for the management of risk sits with Glasgow City Council as an employer. This responsibility should not be devolved to individual schools.

“Glasgow City Council must commit to go beyond statistics and act on the evidence of risk of harm, to teachers and young people, that their own recording clearly shows. The EIS is clear that increased resourcing is fundamental in ensuring that young people are supported to engage with learning in school and also to ensure that teachers are afforded the safe place in which to work that Health and Safety legislation obligates all employers to ensure.”

Glasgow Labour’s education spokesperson, Councillor Lilith Johnstone, told The Herald that more work is needed to ensure that staff and pupils are safe in the city’s schools:

“Teachers and school support staff should be able to go to work without being assaulted or threatened. Children should be able to learn in a safe environment. These figures raise serious questions about whether enough is being done to protect them.

“More than 7,000 recorded incidents in one school year cannot simply become an accepted part of school life. Support for learning staff alone were the subject of more than 2,300 recorded physical or verbal assaults.

“We need a clear explanation of what is driving these figures, what support schools are receiving and whether the measures in place are making a difference. If changes in recording explain part of the increase, the Council should set that out clearly.

“It is also concerning that the Council cannot provide a clear breakdown of incidents involving knives, emergency service attendance or staff needing medical treatment. That information matters when assessing the seriousness of incidents and deciding where support is needed.

“Staff who experience violence need practical help, proper follow-up and confidence that reporting an incident will lead to action. Pupils affected by violence need that reassurance too.

“This must include early intervention and appropriate specialist support for children whose needs are not being met. Supporting those children and keeping staff and pupils safe must go hand in hand.

“The Council and Scottish Government need to ensure schools have the staff, training and resources to respond. Glasgow Labour will be pressing for clear actions and regular reporting so we can judge whether things are improving.”

A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council said:

“Violence of any kind will not be tolerated in our schools, and we actively encourage staff to report incidents so that we have accurate data.

“It is only with robust statistics that we can support schools with the correct initiatives and understand any trends or challenges that our staff are facing.

“We also must put the data in context – the figures relate to almost 200 educational establishments across our primary, secondary and ASL schools.

“There are more than 72,000 pupils in the city and we employ 9,000 teachers and school staff.

“We saw a rise in reported incidents between 2023 and 2024 – and have responded by putting several actions in place.

“These include a joint education services and trade union violence collective working group – working together to raise awareness, improve reporting and reduce the potential for incidents.

“Monthly reports are also helping senior officers to work with schools on early intervention practices and support staff in schools which are seeing repeat and high frequency situations.

“We will also continue to work with Scottish Government colleagues to help raise awareness of behaviour in schools.

“Everyone has a role to play in how our children and young people are managing challenging circumstances and our schools will work with families to make sure the best supports are in place.”