Teachers are now more inclined to report problems

Almost 200 pupils were reported to the police as a result of all the incidents.

More than one in 20 teachers were involved in an incident during the year, with 83.5 working days being recorded as lost as a result.

Education Minister Jack McConnell condemned the increase, saying it added to his concerns about the problems faced each day in the classroom by teachers.

He said: "Violence and threatening behaviour against teachers has no place in Scotland's schools.

"The figures published today have reinforced both my concerns about the problems teachers are facing every day in the classroom because of disruptive behaviour, and my determination to do something about it."

The minister said the discipline task group which he has set up would use the figures to inform their work.

"They will look at ways in which existing policies could be improved, and what further measures we should take, to improve behaviour and foster positive attitudes towards education in all our children."

Key points of the report:

• The figures were first collected in August 1998, when a total of 743 attacks were recorded

• That figure rose to 1,898 in 1999 and now to 3,083

• 36% of attacks were recorded in primary schools, 29% in secondaries and 34% in special schools

• 6% of the incidents were reported to the police

• However, a Scottish Executive spokeswoman said this did not always mean police treated the incident as a crime

• Half of the incidents took place in the classroom, while nine out of 10 perpetrators were pupils at the school

The executive spokeswoman said some of the increase could be attributed to greater reporting of attacks.

But she added: "As with all such surveys, there is likely to be an element of under reporting within the overall figures.

"This factor is expected to diminish with time as the violence reporting procedure becomes more firmly established within each local authority."