Number of violent incidents in North Ayrshire schools soars by over 60% in four years, figures show

The number of aggression and violence incidents in North Ayrshire schools has rocketed by more than 60% within education settings in the past four years, alarming new figures have revealed.

This emerged when former Tory leader Tom Marshall asked Margaret Johnson, cabinet member for Education: “The report to North Ayrshire Council’s Corporate Health and Safety Group on March 19, 2026 recorded the number of Aggression and Violence incidents occurring within the Education Directorate for quarter three over the last four years.

“There were 357 incidents in 2022, 457 in 2023, 372 in 2024 and 576 in 2025. What is the explanation for a 61% increase over the last four years?”

Cllr Johnson said: “The service carefully monitors such figures on an ongoing basis. The rise in the number of incidents is based upon a myriad of factors, including improved reporting processes, ongoing impacts from the pandemic, and increases within the primary sector.

“Our aim is to ensure safety, inclusive learning environments where aggression and violence are neither tolerated nor normalised and where the well-being of pupils and staff is paramount.”

Cllr Marshall said he felt the reporting process had not improved as he spoke to a teacher who had reported an incident three years ago but they had not yet had a response.

He also asked what the council were doing to reduce the number of incidents.

Cllr Johnson said she did not have that information to hand but she would get a reply to him following the meeting.