Restorative Justice in Scottish Schools: A Divided Approach?

A senior teacher in Glasgow has gone on the record about the "immense damage" caused by restorative justice practices in Scottish schools. According to the teacher, the system is based on trauma-informed and restorative practices, which are not only ineffective but also cause harm. The teacher claims that pupils are misusing "anxiety passes" to walk out of class early, and lax security is leading to violent incidents. They also report being told to "f**k off" by pupils repeatedly and having to ask for quiet 47 times in a class of 27. The teacher argues that restorative justice is a "flawed and damaging approach" and suggests that pupils from another school are entering their building to target a young person. In contrast, Maureen McKenna, a former director of education for Glasgow City Council, insists that restorative justice does work, but only when done in the moment, as the incident happens. She also suggests that the "formulaic approach" used in some schools is not suitable for young people. Meanwhile, the Scottish Government has been advised by experts to invest in an increased workforce to tackle violence in schools, and a proposed blended staff team of teachers and youth workers from the third sector is seen as a potential solution.

Key Takeaways:

• Restorative justice practices are being criticized for causing "immense damage" and being ineffective in Scottish schools.
• A senior teacher in Glasgow reported that pupils are misusing "anxiety passes" to walk out of class early and that lax security is leading to violent incidents.
• The teacher also reported being told to "f**k off" by pupils repeatedly and having to ask for quiet 47 times in a class of 27.
• Maureen McKenna, a former director of education for Glasgow City Council, insists that restorative justice does work, but only when done in the moment, as the incident happens.
• The Scottish Government has been advised by experts to invest in an increased workforce to tackle violence in schools.
• A proposed blended staff team of teachers and youth workers from the third sector is seen as a potential solution.

Statistics:

• Fixed-term exclusions dropped by 90 per cent in Glasgow over a period of 14 years under Maureen McKenna's stewardship.
• Recent figures obtained by Channel 4 News suggested that violence is occurring in Scottish schools at a rate higher than that of England and Wales.
• Over 80 per cent of Scotland's teachers are represented by the EIS.
• Glasgow's schools have seen a rise in challenging circumstances and erratic attendance post-pandemic.
• The vast majority of Glasgow's teachers and school staff are committed to the city's pupils.

Sources:

• The Scotsman
• Channel 4 News
• Glasgow City Council
• EIS (Educational Institute of Scotland)
• University of Glasgow
• Commission on School Reform