Aberdeen School Violence: A Complex Issue Requiring Multifaceted Solutions

Aberdeen school violence has seen a nearly quadrupled rise since the pandemic, with the city's education convener warning that tighter security would not deter determined pupils. Martin Greig, Aberdeen City Council's education convener, believes that metal detectors and heightened security measures would be counterproductive and heighten tensions. Instead, he suggests focusing on the causes of violence, including the rise of additional support needs pupils and the physical layout of the council's Victorian schools, which exacerbates the issue.

Key Takeaways:

• The number of incidents of pupil violence in Aberdeen schools has nearly quadrupled since the pandemic, from around 300 in 2018-19 to 1,146 in 2024-25.
• The council recorded 43 weapons seized from Aberdeen schools between January 2024 and April 2025.
• The number of pupils in need of extra support has more than tripled since 2016, from 5,000 to over 17,000.
• Aberdeen's ageing school buildings are also seen as a contributing factor to the sharp increase in pupil violence.
• The education convener suggests focusing on addressing the needs of individual pupils, which are diverse and oftenrequire extra support.
• The council's anti-knife and anti-bullying policies are designed in collaboration with police and trade unions, but Mr. Greig believes they need to be refreshed.
• He favors evidence-based, purposeful approaches to raising awareness about the dangers of carrying blades and promoting a sense of community and mutual respect.
• Mr. Greig is skeptical about the effectiveness of anti-knife lessons in reducing pupil violence, citing the already full school timetables and the need for evidence-based solutions.

Statistics:

• The number of incidents of pupil violence in Aberdeen schools has nearly quadrupled since the pandemic, from 300 (2018-19) to 1,146 (2024-25).
• 43 weapons were seized from Aberdeen schools between January 2024 and April 2025.
• The number of pupils in need of extra support has more than tripled since 2016, from 5,000 to over 17,000.
• The cost of upgrading Aberdeen's ageing school buildings over the next 15 years is estimated to be around half a billion pounds.
• Anti-knife lessons were rolled out to almost 1,500 pupils after a tragedy almost a decade ago, teaching them about the dangers and consequences of carrying a blade.

Sources:

• [Evening Express]
• [Aberdeen City Council Freedom of Information probe]
• [Police figures]