Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Debate: Ending Violence in Scottish Schools

Liam Kerr S6M-12389 That the Parliament believes that no pupil, teacher or member of school staff should suffer physical or verbal abuse and that every child and young person has the right to an uninterrupted school day, free from violence and disruption; notes the impact that the current escalation of violence in schools has had on the teaching profession, especially in relation to retention and mental health; further notes, with concern, the alarming reports of instances of violence and disruption, and calls on the Scottish Government to support parents, teachers and staff, assisting them in promoting acceptable behaviour and tackling instances of violence and disruption; calls on the Scottish Government to support children and young people impacted by violence and disruption in schools and to facilitate an environment in which all young people are safe to learn, develop and grow, and further calls on all Members of the Scottish Parliament to work together in tackling the seriousness of this issue, diligently and without delay. Jenny Gilruth S6M-12389.2 As an amendment to motion S6M-12389 in the name of Liam Kerr (Ending Violence in Scottish Schools), insert at end ", alongside local authorities, schools, teachers and young people themselves; recognises the work that is already underway to respond to these challenges, including the joint national action plan with COSLA, which will publish in the spring; welcomes the publication of the gender-based violence in schools framework, which it agrees is a necessary step in responding to the increase in misogynistic behaviours identified by the behaviour in Scottish schools research and reports by teaching unions, and reaffirms, in the week of International Women’s Day, the need to end misogyny in Scotland’s schools and wider society." Pam Duncan-Glancy S6M-12389.1 As an amendment to motion S6M-12389 in the name of Liam Kerr (Ending Violence in Scottish Schools), insert at end "; notes that teachers and school staff must be safe from violence and harassment at work; recognises that cuts to education, increased teacher workload, the absence of more non-contact time and a lack of support for pupils with additional support needs continue to contribute to the rise of violence and poor behaviour in schools; further recognises the important role that youth work and external programmes, like the MCR Pathways service in Glasgow, play in providing additional support for young people, and calls on the Scottish Government to publish the national action plan on behaviour in schools imminently, and to include in it the collection of national, anonymous data, clear processes for the reporting of incidents with support from senior management in schools, the addition of teacher wellbeing as a measure of inspection, and clear guidance on consequences and escalation."