FOI Request - Violence and Aggression in Schools

Request 101003411040

The EIS is currently investigating violence and aggression in schools. It defines “violence and aggression” as: any incident in which a person is abused, threatened or assaulted in circumstances relating to their work.

Under the Freedom of Information Act I would like to request the following information:

1.  Does your local authority have a policy for dealing with violence and aggression towards teachers, and other school staff, from pupils?
a. If so, please provide the policy.

2.  How are violent and aggressive incidents from pupils towards teachers and school staff recorded?    
   
a.  Please attach a copy of your reporting form if available.
b.  Does this reporting include the protected characteristics of the staff member? (For example their gender, race, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, gender reassignment, disability, religion or belief.)

3.  Please provide details of the number of violent and aggressive incidents by pupils towards teachers that have been recorded in your local authority in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. (This can be provided in the academic year or calendar year depending on how this information is recorded.)

4.  Please provide details of the number of physical assaults by pupils towards teachers that have been recorded in your local authority in: 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. (This can be provided in the academic year or calendar year depending on how this information is recorded.)

5.  How many teachers have been absent in your local authority in: 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 as a result of a physical injury resulting from violence and aggressive incidents from pupils?

a.  Please provide totals for each year, as well as the total number of teachers employed, and the number of teachers who had at least one sick leave absence during that year.

6.  How many teachers have been absent in your local authority in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 as a result of stress, anxiety or depression attributed to violence and aggressive incidents from pupils?

a.  Please provide totals for each year.

7.  How many working days have been lost in your local authority in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 as a result of a physical injury resulting from violence and aggressive incidents from pupils?

a.  Please provide totals for each year as well as a percentage from the total number of working days lost by teachers.

8.  How many working days have been lost in your local authority in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 as a result of stress, anxiety or depression resulting from violence and aggressive incidents from pupils?

a.  Please provide totals for each year as well as a percentage from the total number of working days lost by teachers.

Response 07-12-2023

1. Please find attached policy documents regarding Teaching Staff and Support Staff.

2. Up to February 2023, paper forms were completed by staff and the information then entered in a spreadsheet.  Online form in operation since March 2023.
a)  Attached
b)  No

3. & 4. Please see response here.

5.- 8. Not held. This information is not recorded. Information that is not held falls under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Information not held.