School violence upwards trend ‘deeply concerning’

THE upward trend in violent incidents at Dumfries and Galloway schools was this week described as “deeply concerning”.

And Annandale North councillor Carolyne Wilson, who is also a Lockerbie Academy parent council member, has demanded urgent action to ensure the safety of pupils and staff.

Education chiefs have now agreed to review their procedures for handling serious incidents at schools across the region.

Tabling a motion on the issue at the full council meeting on Monday, Councillor Wilson said: “We’re all aware that incidents in our school continue to rise.

“Violent incidents increased from 3,032 during the 2023/24 academic year to 3,173 in the 2024/25 year, with 1,707 of those incidents directed at our staff.

“This trend is deeply concerning and demands urgent action. However, this motion arises from a knife incident that occurred in one of the schools.

“I did not learn of this incident from the school or the council, but instead through a police report presented at a community council meeting six weeks after the incident took place.”

The knife incident occurred at the Lockerbie secondary school in October 2025, and councillor Wilson was furious that there was no communication to parents or local councillors.

The Labour Group leader demanded better communication from Dumfries and Galloway Council in response to major incidents at schools.

She said: “Today’s motion seeks to ensure that a clear, robust policy comes forward for approval at the next education, skills and community well-being committee. “Firstly, we must address the overall rise in school incidents. Staff and pupils must feel safe in their learning environment and the current upward trend cannot continue.

“Second, we need clear policies and procedures that are consistently applied and readily accessible.

“And third, communication must improve. Ward members and, most critically, parents and carers must be fully and promptly informed when serious incidents occur in our schools.”

Jim Brown, the council’s chief education officer, replied: “We’ll bring back a report. We do have extant procedures in place, and I think it’s perfectly reasonable to consider on a case by case basis whether those processes were followed in the case you’ve mentioned, Councillor Wilson.

“It’s worth saying that the school acted in line with procedure, but I nonetheless recognise the points you made, and I think it’s perfectly appropriate for me to evaluate whether the right decision was made not to cascade further.”

Lochar councillor Tracey Little said that, following a separate school incident, she also raised this matter with the education director and was assured that work is already underway around policies and procedures.

Annandale South councillor George Jamieson, the SNP group’s education spokesman, said: “I know that Annan Academy have worked really well with the council, council officers, the police, school, parents, and the children.

“We’ve now got a security fence around Annan Academy, which has been a big help in reassuring people, including staff, that we are taking steps where steps are required.

“But that doesn’t take away the need for a review of all security and any such incidents that might happen.”