Angus has formalised measures to deal with incidents involving weapons in schools in response to recommendations which emerged from the tragic death of Aberdeen teenager Bailey Gwynne.
Guidance on dealing with incidents such as knives, advice on searches of pupils suspected of carrying a blade and the importance of acting on any information which might suggest a youngster is armed with a weapon is among the information contained in the new police approved by Children and learning committee councillors.
Education bosses have said there is no evidence to suggest weapons are an issue in Angus schools.
However, a Kirriemuir incident last year in which a young teenager had to be disarmed by police after allegedly threatening to kill a fellow pupil with a knife demonstrated that the county is not immune to the potential for weapon incidents to happen.
There were 311 instances of a pupil being excluded for using a weapon to assault another pupil or member of staff in 2016/17, and a further 428 incidents involving improvised weapons represented a significant increase from the previous year.
Angus Council head of schools and learning Pauline Stephen said the authority had considered a number of recommendations in the wake of the independent review concluded following the tragic death Bailey October 2015.
The 16-year-old was stabbed to death by a fellow pupil during a fight at Cults Academy in Aberdeen.
The review outlined a number of recommendations for Aberdeen City Council and Ms Stephen said Angus Council has considered those with partners including Police Scotland, assessing areas of practice raised in the report.
Angus youngsters will also be given the opportunity to attend a touring drama performance linked to a nationwide knife crime prevention programme.
The official said: “Through our health and wellbeing curriculum, children and young people are supported to develop safe and responsible attitudes, including understanding the risks and dangers that can arise from carrying a weapon and by being encouraged to speak with an adult if they suspect that someone has a weapon.
“Along with our Police Scotland partners, we have supported the Mentors in Violence programme in some of our secondary schools. In the Autumn we will also welcome the No Knives, Better Lives touring drama to Angus.”
Children and Learning convener, Arbroath Conservative councillor Derek Wann said: “Our schools being safe places for children, young people, staff and others is our first priority.
“Whilst there is no evidence to suggest that young people being in the possession of a weapon is a particular issue for Angus schools, it was important that we reviewed our practice in this area in light of the very tragic circumstances following the death of Bailey Gwynne.
“As a result we have formalised the good practice we had in this area into a policy to support our staff to manage any issues if they do arise. Further work will take place this school session to also review our anti-bullying policy.”
