I fully agree with the central concerns raised in Cameron Wyllie's blog. The scale and frequency of violence and unacceptable behaviour in Scotland’s schools should shock us all.

It should also prompt an urgent question: how much worse does the situation have to become before those responsible for education in Scotland acknowledge the reality facing teachers and school staff every day?

The Scottish Secondary Teachers Association (SSTA) has conducted several surveys of secondary teachers which have consistently highlighted the impact of deteriorating behaviour on teachers’ workload, wellbeing, morale and ability to deliver high-quality learning and teaching. Teachers tell us that managing challenging, disruptive and violent behaviour is taking an increasing amount of time and energy, often at the expense of teaching and learning.

Over 2,300 assaults on staff at Glasgow primary schools last term

Thousands of violent incidents reported in Edinburgh schools in just one year

New data on knives seized from school pupils exposes rise in youth violence

Violent incidents in capital's schools soar by 1,200 in just one year

The consequences are significant, not only for staff but for the majority of young people who want to learn in a safe, calm and respectful environment.

It is important, however, to put the rise in recorded violent incidents into context. The increase in reported figures does not necessarily mean that every increase represents a new incident of violence that would previously have gone unreported.

Teachers are now being encouraged by their trade unions and employers to report incidents of violence and aggression which might previously have been minimised, normalised or simply ignored. The SSTA has consistently encouraged members to report incidents and to ensure there is an accurate record of what is happening in our schools.

But improved reporting does not explain away the underlying problem. The situation is getting worse.

The fact that more incidents are now being recorded should not become an excuse for complacency. On the contrary, better reporting should provide the evidence needed to take decisive action.

There is also an important discussion to be had about the impact of the Presumption of Mainstreaming and whether the current model of provision is meeting the needs of every child and young person.

The SSTA has long argued that inclusion must be properly resourced and that mainstreaming cannot simply mean placing pupils with significant and........

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