FM ANGER AT CLASS ISSUES

VIOLENCE in schools is “unacceptable”, First Minister John Swinney has insisted after a surge in attacks on classroom assistants.

- BY CRAIG MEIGHAN

The GMB union said some school support staff were wearing protective clothing to work to deal with physical abuse from pupils.

The union claimed data it obtained through freedom of information requests showed a 20 per cent rise in assaults and abuse in schools last year.

GMB added there was a “dramatic escalation in violence and threatening behaviour’.

Glasgow saw incidents rise by 30 per cent in 2024 to 6081, while Shetland recorded 1794 incidents, up 81 per cent on 2023.