Millions of people were transfixed by the TV drama Adolescence recently and not just because of the dark theme of misogynist radicalisation. It was also the eyepopping depiction of daily life inside a secondary school.

It showed exasperated, demoralised teachers trying and failing to impose order and discipline on disrespectful and unruly pupils, with kids treating the place like a drop-in centre, coming and going as they pleased.

Surely this was an exaggeration, dramatic licence? people asked. The notion that teachers really have no means of enforcing good behaviour seems absurd to those who are a few decades out of short trousers. But ask current teachers if they recognise the scenes and the response is not reassuring. “There’s so little you can do,” one told me, “and the kids know it.”

Disruptive, abusive and violent behaviour in schools has become a bona fide crisis in Scotland as in England since the pandemic and many teachers feel their hands are tied in dealing with it. Many Scottish schoolchildren feel safe in their schools, thankfully, but not all do and nor do their teachers, against a nationwide increase in disruptive behaviour.

Read more Rebecca McQuillan

Some teachers describe “lawless” schools where pupils refuse point blank to do what they are told and square up to staff. Forty four per cent of Scottish teachers in a recent survey by the NASUWT teaching union reported experiencing physical abuse or violence in the previous year. Women report experiencing more physical assaults than men. Staff at one East Dumbartonshire school took industrial action earlier this year........

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