How is the SNP tackling violence in schools?

Violence has no place in Scotland’s schools, and the SNP is taking an array of actions to promote positive relationships and support teachers and young people.

As the Scottish Government we have acknowledged the impact of the wider societal impact, such as deprivation, on behaviour and is committed to eradicating child poverty and delivering better outcomes for pupils.

We have invested in programmes to engage with young people and focus on violence prevention. This is why the SNP government has invested more than £6 million to implement the violence prevention framework since 2023.

This funding has supported the hugely important work of the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit, Medics Against Violence and YouthLink Scotland’s No Knives, Better Lives programme, and the delivery of the mentors in violence prevention in schools throughout Scotland.

The relationships and behaviour in schools: national action plan 2024 to 2027 is responding to the evidence from the Behaviour in Scottish Schools Research 2023. Almost 4,000 school staff from across Scotland participated in the “Behaviour in Scottish Schools” report, published in 2023.

The joint national action plan is a collaborative exercise and informed by the Scottish Government, COSLA, Education Scotland and parents and carers, to name only a few organisations involved. 20 key actions are designed to support schools in their practice and approaches, delivered across the three years and led by partners including national and local government, and third sector partners.

The building positive relationships in schools guidance was published in June 2025 to promote building positive relationships and behaviour across the whole school community.

Developed with input from headteachers, teaching unions, local government and educational psychologists, it focuses on improving outcomes by reinforcing positive behaviour and working to reduce the likelihood of negative behaviour occurring in future.

Factors such as poverty and deprivation must be considered in their impact on behaviour in schools and the First Minister is clear in his assertion that eradicating child poverty is the top priority.

Policies such as the Best Start Breakfasts fund, Extra Time Programme, and extending free school meals are ensuring that Scotland is the only part of the UK to see a reduction in child poverty.