In November, the Times reported that a total of 13,480 violent incidents had been recorded in Fife schools over the past seven years.

In the first ten months of 2023 there were already 3,637 reports of incidents. March was the worst month with 610 violent incidents.

As part of a pilot scheme, four social workers have been placed in high schools with ‘high deprivation and high levels of non-attendance’. These schools were Inverkeithing, Lochgelly, Glenwood, and Levenmouth.

Convenor of the education scrutiny committee, Councillor Kathleen Leslie, said: “I would personally like to reassure parents and carers across Fife that the safety and wellbeing of all our children and staff is a priority.

“We are working hard and we will continue to work with all our school communities to make sure our staff and young people have a positive experience at school.”

Later the same month, a survey revealed that 76% of Fife teachers said that the culture in their school is that poor behaviour from pupils is ‘part of the job’. 45% surveyed said they had also experienced physical attacks, verbal abuse, and violence from pupils in the last 12 months.

A majority of teachers (95%) said that they had also been sworn at.

Also this month:

Time capsule unearthed in Lochgelly after 20 years in the ground

Kingdom Housing applies for planning permission for 47 new homes

Tartan Talkers open new club in Ballingry to support men’s mental health