An “alarming” total of 29 weapons – including knives, hammers and scissors – have been found on Perth and Kinross school pupils over the last two years, it has been revealed.
The concerning statistic has emerged through a Freedom of Information request submitted by the Conservatives.
Across Scotland there were 474 instances of pupils caught with offensive weapons in schools over the same two-year period.
Fourteen weapons were found on PKC pupils in the year 2023/24 and 15 the previous year.
An inquiry following the fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Aberdeen schoolboy Bailey Gwynne inside Cults Academy in 2015 concluded it had been “potentially avoidable” if teachers had been told a pupil carried weapons.
Last month, Perth was the first city in Scotland to host the imposing 27ft high Knife Angel sculpture – currently on display in King Edward Street – to highlight the dangers of knife crime.
PKC school pupils have been visiting the sculpture made from seized blades for projects relating to violence and knife crime.
PKC has also planned a number of events surrounding knife crime education, including a recent seminar which included speakers from leading experts from Scottish charities, including Victim Support Scotland.
Perth and Kinross Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser said while Perth and Kinross was not impacted as badly as other Scottish towns and cities, it is still a concern for parents of children across the region.
He said: “It is shuddering to think that some pupils had brought knives, hammers and scissors to their school.
“These figures give me cause for concern. Fortunately, there doesn’t appear to be a massive problem in Perth and Kinross, but nevertheless many parents will be rightly worried when they read of these figures on weapons found on school pupils.
“In their reply to our Freedom of Information request, Perth and Kinross Council state that the data they supplied includes assault with a weapon and brandishing a weapon, which is alarming.”
While Perth and Kinross isn’t as affected as other regions, the city has been touched by the tragedy of knife crime.
In November this year Caleb Ferguson was given a life sentence for murdering 20-year-old Cameron Rae in a Perth flat on April 8 last year.
Ferguson, who was 18 at the time of the murder, was ordered to serve at least 16 years before becoming eligible to apply for parole.
Cammy’s mum Kerry Burgess told the PA at the time: “Yes, he has to apply for parole, and if he does he is on licence for life.
“However, he can still go on to have family. His mother can visit him in prison, while I have to visit my boy every day at the cemetery.”
In response to the figures, a Perth and Kinross Council spokesperson said: “The care and welfare of both of our staff and our pupils is a priority.
“Most pupils do not experience dysregulated behaviour.
“Any incident reported is investigated and appropriate action taken.
“The data reported relates to incidents staff perceive resulted from distressed, challenging or aggressive behaviour.
“Data is reported in an academic year and figures include all of these behaviours.
“To raise awareness of the risks of carrying weapons, Perth and Kinross Council has welcomed the opportunity to host the Knife Angel in Perth city centre.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Weapons should never be in our schools, and that is why we are working hard to clamp down on the carrying of weapons.
“The number of recorded incidents of handling offensive weapons in schools in 2023/24 is down on the previous year and this is progress we are determined to build on.
“That’s why we’ve invested more than £4 million over the past two years to address youth violence, the carrying of weapons and violence in and around schools.
“Violence and abusive behaviour towards pupils or staff is completely unacceptable.
“In August, the Scottish Government published a joint action plan with COSLA, setting out a range of meaningful actions that will be taken at a national and local level over the next three years to respond to concerns parents, pupils and teachers have about misbehaviour in schools, including violence.”
EIS general secretary Andrea Bradley said there is no justification for a pupil ever to bring a weapon into school.
She commented: “Schools have very clear discipline policies in place, which highlight that bringing any type of weapon to school is completely unacceptable and carries serious consequences, including school exclusion, and police involvement where necessary.
“Many incidents of weapon-carrying are cases of foolish bravado, where pupils are seeking to impress or intimidate others, but they are nonetheless a significant threat to the health and safety of school staff and pupils.
“In order to prevent violent and aggressive behaviour of any kind, it is important that the requisite conditions, including staffing and other resources, for building and maintaining positive relationships, are in place in our schools.
“The EIS also believes that time and space needs to be created within the curriculum for peace education, including a focus on non-violent conflict resolution, in order to help counteract the growth in extremism and associated violence, with teachers supported through professional learning opportunities, to provide vital learning for the young people upon whom the future peace of our society will depend.”