GLASGOW'S teachers were assaulted in school at least 127 times last year - an attack every one and a half days of term.

GLASGOW'S teachers were assaulted in school at least 127 times last year - an attack every one and a half days of term.

Although figures suggest the number of violent attacks is down slightly overall from the previous year, an Evening Times investigation has found assaults in primary schools are rising and now account for a third of classroom attacks.

The worst schools in the city for violence were Castlemilk High, where there were 13 attacks on teachers, Lochend Community High, where there were 11, and Cleveden Secondary, where there were 10 violent incidents.

Education chiefs are prevented from revealing the exact number of violent incidents in individual schools where fewer than five teachers have been assaulted because that would make it easier to publicly identify the pupils involved.

That means the true scale of violence is bound to be higher than 127 attacks.

Our investigation also found there has been at least one incident involving a weapon in city schools in each of the past two years.

Figures released under Freedom of Information laws showed that in 2006 there were at least 32 assaults on teachers in primary schools and 100 in secondary schools.

In 2007, there were 43 assaults in primaries and 84 in secondaries.

There was at least one incident involving a weapon at Knightswood Secondary School in 2006 and at least one at King's Park Secondary in 2007.

Willie Hart, of the teacher's union the Educational Institute of Scotland, said: "Violence in our schools is one of the most fundamental issues that we face.

SCHOOLS WITH UP TO FIVE PHYSICAL ATTACKS

2006
Alexandra Parade Primary, Bishoploch Primary, Caldercuilt Primary, Camstradden Primary, Chirnsyde Primary, Copeland Primary, Drumoyne Primary, Eastbank Primary, Easthall Primary, Glendale Primary, Greenfield Primary, Househillmuir Primary, Hyndland Primary, Kelvindale Primary, Knightswood Primary, Pinewood Primary, St Cuthbert's Primary, St Gregory's Primary, St Michael's Primary, St Philomena's Primary, St Roch's Primary, Stonedyke Primary, Sunnyside Primary, Tinto Primary, Yoker Primary, All Saints Secondary, Bannerman High, Castlemilk High, Eastbank Academy, Hillhead High, Hillpark Secondary, King's Park Secondary, Knightswood Secondary, Lourdes Secondary, Rosshall Academy, Shawlands Academy, St Margaret Mary's Secondary, St Mungo's Academy.

2007
Albert Primary, Antonine Primary, Blairtummock Primary, Camstradden Primary, Carmunnock Primary, Commonhead Primary, Craigton Primary, Darnley Primary, Drumry Primary, Eastbank Primary, Glasgow Gaelic School, Gowanbank Primary, Kelvinhaugh Primary, King's Park Primary, Langfaulds Primary, Oakgrove Primary, Our Lady of the Peace Primary, Our Lady of the Rosary Primary, Quarrybrae Primary, St Bridget's Primary, St Brigid's Primary, St Charles' Primary, St Conval's Primary, St Cuthbert's Primary, St Fillan's Primary, St Gregory's Primary, St Jude's Primary, St Mark's Primary, St Mungo's Primary St Ninian's Primary, St Teresa's Primary, Stonedyke Primary, Tinto Primary, Wellhouse Primary, Wellshot Primary, All Saints Secondary, Drumchapel High, Eastbank Academy, Govan High, Hillhead High, Holyrood Secondary, Hyndland Secondary, John Paul Academy, Knightswood Secondary, Lourdes Secondary, Rosshall Academy, Shawlands Academy, Smithycroft Secondary, St Andrew's Secondary, Whitehill Secondary.

"I wouldn't want to claim that violence is rife in Glasgow's schools, but there is clearly a growing concern among teachers about violent incidents.

"In particular, there's a concern that there appears to be a reluctance on the part of our employers, Glasgow City Council, to tackle instances of violence as rigorously as they could."

Mr Hart claims education chiefs are too often unwilling to remove violent pupils and those caught carrying weapons to school.

He added: "Our concern is that over the last two years the council won't give carte blanche to schools to exclude pupils caught with weapons. It does not automatically happen."

He said that concerned teachers and called on pupils to be immediately excluded if caught with a weapon.

He said: "The council's message is that these young people are in need of support.

"Everybody accepts that but I don't think they should be allowed to put student and staff safety at risk.

"When we're all engaged in trying to challenge violence and weapon carrying then we need pupils to be quickly excluded or removed from school if they're found with a weapon."

The union chief said placing children with additional support needs in mainstream classes could also cause severe disruption.

Mr Hart said: "I'm not suggesting it's every class but there are some classes, including in primary schools, where teachers are at their wits' end because they're forced to retain a young person who won't follow any instruction and whose behaviour is threatening to staff and children.

"In these situations, staff feel they're making very limited progress.

"We cannot expect a class to continue to function normally with someone who is violently disruptive."

Mr Hart said better resourcing of support services such as child psychologists would help make classrooms safer.

Glasgow City Council said it is working "extremely hard" to reduce violence in schools.

A spokeswoman added: "Violence of any form against school staff will not be tolerated in Glasgow and appropriate disciplinary action is taken."

She said they had stringent procedures for school staff reporting violent incidents.

"Every such incident is recorded centrally and all are carefully monitored by education officials," she said.

"Glasgow's schools take very seriously not just the recording of such incidents, but also the promotion of schemes and initiatives aimed at encouraging positive behaviour among pupils and boosting their personal and social development."