Reconstruction work is said to heighten the problem

The Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association is campaigning for a change in the health and safety legislation affecting young people in schools.

It said teachers and other staff benefited from extensive provisions in laws and regulations - but not pupils.

Yet the pupils made up about 90% of the people in a typical school building - and had no choice about being there.

Stuck in one place

The only reference was that "suitable regard" should be had to those using a building but not working there when considering health and safety issues.

It is high time that pupils are given the same status as teachers and other staff in schools David Eaglesham SSTA leader

The association said it had always been agreed that non-employees could not be covered, being a "transient population" - shoppers or train passengers, for example.

But the situation for school pupils was entirely different, as they spent almost 30 hours a week in the same place - and had to attend by law.

"It is high time that pupils are given the same status as teachers and other staff in schools," said the association's general secretary, David Eaglesham.

"It is no longer sufficient for them to be given secondary consideration when planning buildings and determining proper facilities."

Behaviour issue

He claimed that in many PFI-funded projects pupils were not given sufficient consideration.

"If mandatory standards were established mirroring those which apply to adults then the situation would be much more satisfactory."

An added consideration was that pupils' behaviour improved significantly where good buildings gave them a sense of pride and responsibility.

The association intends to raise the matter with the Scottish Executive, which was not available for comment.

The association has also said that more teachers are being subjected to abusive and even violent behaviour at parents' meetings.

In an advice leaflet, it said schools should have a "zero tolerance" approach and ban parents who ignored warnings about their behaviour.