To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to recent reports of a rise in recorded bullying incidents in schools. (S6O-05055)

I have made it clear that I expect all incidents of bullying to be recorded and that, with more rigorous recording, the number of recorded incidents will likely increase. That reflects a crucial part of our on-going commitment to transparency, ensuring that every allegation is taken seriously and that all children and young people are properly supported.

To support schools, we published updated national anti-bullying guidance in November of last year, which includes guidance on recording and monitoring. We also continue to fully fund respectme, Scotland’s anti-bullying service, to build confidence and capacity to address bullying effectively.

With more than 64,000 bullying incidents logged in just five years and growing reports of violence against teachers, it is clear that violence and intimidation are becoming routine in Scotland’s schools. Does the Cabinet secretary agree with the First Minister’s claim yesterday that the Scottish National Party Government has not failed in education, when it is evident that it is failing to protect pupils and staff from harm?

Douglas Lumsden might be interested in a report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education that was published in early 2023, which looked at the quantum of bullying incidents that have been recorded and noted that only two thirds of our schools recorded bullying incidents effectively. We therefore know that a number of schools currently do not recording bullying incidents.

In my time as education secretary, I have been clear that we want all schools to record all incidents and allegations. We need to have a clear national picture. In doing that, I accept and recognise that it might lead to an increase in the number of incidents that are recorded, but it is important to have that information to inform our support to our schools. That has been done primarily from an education perspective, driven through the national action plan on behaviour and relationships, which has been co-produced with local authorities and our teaching trade unions. It has been hugely important to have co-operative partnership working on this really important issue in our schools.

Bullying is categorically unacceptable in Scotland’s schools and in our society. Will the Cabinet secretary provide details of engagement with teachers and parents, who interact with our young people day in, day out, in shaping guidance on responding to challenging behaviour?

I engage with parents and teachers on a regular basis. This morning, I met the headteacher panel and, earlier this week, I was in Orkney meeting parents and carers and listening to some of their concerns at the current time.

We published the guidance, “Fostering a positive, inclusive and safe school environment”, to support our school staff in relation to challenging behaviour. As I have set out previously, the Scottish advisory group on relationships and behaviour in schools includes representatives from our teaching unions and Connect, our parent organisation, which has been hugely important in providing the oversight and necessary experience in the development of the guidance.