General Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 23 May 2024.
Stephen Kerr
Conservative
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in response to the call from the NASUWT teachers union for a system of strategies to be put in place for dangerous and disruptive behaviour, including consequences for pupils. (S6O-03482)
Jenny Gilruth
Scottish National Party
I make it clear that the existing policy framework, including the national policy on exclusion, does not prevent the use of consequences. However, I have been listening carefully to the concerns of the teaching profession, and to members on all sides of the chamber, on the need for further clarification and support on this issue.
In the coming weeks, we will publish a comprehensive national action plan to respond to evidence from our behaviour in Scottish schools research and last year’s relationships and behaviour summits. That plan will be jointly owned with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and has been developed in collaboration with the Scottish advisory group for relationships and behaviour in schools.
The NASUWT is a member of SAGRABIS and has provided valuable input on the development of the plan.
Stephen Kerr
Conservative
The Cabinet secretary knows that teachers just want to be safe at work. Yesterday, a teacher told me:
“Nothing’s been done, nothing is changing. There are no sanctions. Nobody seems to care.”
Mike Corbett of the NASUWT in Scotland said:
“The Cabinet Secretary cannot claim to be in any doubt about what is needed to help address this problem. She needs to show real leadership by putting in place national guidelines that make it clear to schools what is expected of them and which uphold teachers’ right to work in safety.”
Will she do so?
Jenny Gilruth
Scottish National Party
I thank the member for his interest in the issue. I met Mike Corbett on Tuesday this week; we engage regularly on issues in relation to behaviour and relationships. As the member will recall, when he previously held the post of education spokesperson for his party, it was his debate that necessitated some of the action that the Government has taken on this very issue, and I recognise his on-going interest to that end.
Since June last year, a range of different actions have been taken. I established a headteachers task force, which met again yesterday to discuss behaviour. We have chaired a number of behaviour summits to discuss a range of issues on relationships and behaviour—[ Interruption .]
Alison Johnstone
Presiding Officer
Excuse me, Cabinet secretary. Mr Lumsden, I would be grateful if you could resist contributing from your seat.
Jenny Gilruth
Scottish National Party
Thank you, Presiding Officer.
We have also published national research, as I mentioned, on the experiences of nearly 4,000 teachers and support staff. It is important that the Government listens to those views, and I have engaged extensively with Scotland’s teaching unions.
In November, I set out a five-step action plan confirming funding for support staff and—to go back to the member’s point—providing clarity at national level on advice and guidance to schools in relation to consequences. That work is hugely important, but it has to be jointly owned with COSLA, which is why the action plan and the steps that the Government is going to take will be published in the coming weeks.
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