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First Minister taking steps to address pupil violence at Northfield Academy

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was asked what the Government will do about violence and a potential strike at Northfield Academy. Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was asked what the Government will do about violence and a potential strike at Northfield Academy. Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will meet with employers to address concerns over the handling of pupil violence at Aberdeen’s Northfield Academy.

This week, Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) member teachers at Northfield voted 89% in favour of industrial action.

They originally called the strike ballot after raising concerns about a perceived lack of protection from violent pupils.

It came after reports earlier in the year of teachers across the city claiming not to feel safe and to be experiencing increased violence and aggression from pupils.

Many Aberdeen EIS members even said that they had considered leaving their posts.

What is being done?

Earlier this month, a leaked report from Aberdeen City Council called the union’s strike threats into question. According to the document, the council believes that the union’s preferred approach for handling “unteachable pupils” would breach the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

But Aberdeen EIS secretary Ron Constable said Northfield “smashed” through the threshold needed to trigger industrial action at the school. There is no confirmed industrial action, but the union can now begin making plans.

During Thursday’s First Minister’s Questions at Scottish Parliament, MSP Liam Kerr asked what the Government can do about the situation.

He said that teachers feel helpless and turned to industrial action as a last resort.

“Teachers need to be given additional support to ensure they feel safe to carry out their duties in the classroom but not enough is being given.

“It won’t be achievable to give every child the best possible start in life unless the Scottish Government makes sure that schools are places where both pupils and staff feel comfortable, confident and ready to learn.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that local authorities should have support in place to protect teachers’ well-being.

She is planning to meet with Convention of Scottish Local Authority (Cosla) officials to learn more about the situation.

Ms Sturgeon said: “No teacher should ever experience abuse from the classroom.

“I’m meeting the president of Cosla to discuss what more the Scottish Government can do to support that.”

More strike concerns around the region

Any strike action taken at Northfield Academy would be separate from a more general strike taking place across Scotland. On Thursday November 24, schools and nurseries across the north and north-east were closed due to a strike organised by EIS and the Association of Head Teachers and Deputes in Scotland (AHDS).

But it didn’t end on Thursday.

In addition to any potential action taken at Northfield, EIS has announced two more days of strike action on January 10 and 11. For most north and north-east schools, that’s only a few days after the return from winter holidays.

Local authorities are also waiting to hear more about strikes planned by the NASUWT and the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association (SSTA).

After a recent member ballot, 90% of participating SSTA members voted in favour of a strike during the week of December 5.

And the NASUWT has announced strike days on December 7 and 8, with further industrial action planned for December 9.

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