Moray schools violence at crisis level, says union

More than 11 school staff in Moray are being physically or verbally assaulted every day, according to official figures.

Records released by Moray Council reveal 2148 incidents of violence or threatening behaviour were reported by school staff last year. The figures mean an average of 11.3 incidents are reported every day across the 190-day school year.

GMB Scotland, representing school support staff including pupil support assistants, janitors, admin and catering workers, obtained the data under Freedom of Information and said the reported incidents confirm the scale of the crisis but remain only “the tip of the iceberg.”

Lesley-Anne MacAskill, the union’s organiser in Moray Council, said: “These figures are shocking but sadly no longer surprising.

“Violence against staff in our schools is clearly at crisis levels but official records are still underestimating the scale of that crisis. These reports are the tip of the iceberg.

“From what our members tell us, the incidents of violence and abuse that are not being reported, recorded or investigated could far outstrip those that are. For every one reported, another one or possibly two is not.

“That must change as a matter of urgency and staff must be given the time and encouragement to report incidents properly and should expect those incidents to be properly investigated and acted on.”

A survey of GMB members has revealed two thirds of incidents are never recorded, while three out of four victims said they receive no feedback if they do report an incident.

The union, which obtained the figures revealing the toll of physical and verbal abuse, is piloting a poster campaign to bolster reporting systems.

Posters will be put up in schools in five council areas, including a QR code to allow members to quickly and easily detail incidents to the union immediately.

The union will use the reports to help ensure the council has an accurate understanding of the scale of the crisis. If effective, the posters will be rolled out in other council areas.

MacAskill said: “Staff are too often expected to carry on working after an incident of physical or verbal abuse and told to report it when they have spare time, which is never.

“Details will be lost and many staff members, who may have been shaken but unhurt, see little point in spending time on a report that, they suspect, will end up filed and forgotten. The posters will give staff the opportunity to easily and quickly tell us what is happening.

“No worker should go to their work in fear and feel relief if they arrive home unhurt.

“No one should be asked to go to their work to be punched, kicked, bit, spat on, and expecting to suffer verbal or physical abuse.

“Our members do not feel the authorities are tackling or even recognising the violence in schools but are instead glossing over it and allowing it become normalised.”

A nationwide GMB Scotland survey of almost 800 school support staff, across janitorial, catering, admin cleaning, and classrooms, revealed 68% of workers fear the crisis has worsened over the last three years.

Almost half (47%) do not believe local authorities take the issue seriously, while 63% have had no training in de-escalating potentially violent situations.

Kathleen Robertson, the leader of Moray Council, insisted that the local authority does take reports of violence and abuse against school staff very seriously.

She added: “Any violent or abusive behaviour directed at staff is absolutely unacceptable, and we’ve got strong policies in place to assist individuals in the event of such incidents.

“We’re working closely with the trade unions, teachers, and support staff and have had helpful discussions about how we can progress this issue moving forward.

“Additionally, we’re also looking at providing training for staff to help address these challenges and ensure a safe environment for all.”