Figures obtained via a Freedom of Information request show 10 out of 32 councils have seen a year on year increase since 2011/12.

In 2013/14 the area reported 42 separate incidents of school staff in Dumbarton, the Vale and neighbouring Clydebank being attacked by pupils.

However, the council says many incidents have been related to schools which manage children with complex, additional support needs.

Reported incidents included staff being subjected to physical assaults such as punching, kicking, pushing and shoving, and also verbal assaults.

In the last year, one teacher reported having a stone thrown at their head, while others reported being kicked, pushed and even spat upon.

The Scottish Conservatives obtained the information and the party’s young people spokeswoman, Liz Smith MSP, said: “It’s absolutely right that a zero-tolerance approach to this sort of behaviour is taken in schools. Teachers should not be subjected to any form of assault, no matter how minor it may appear. It just should not happen.

“It’s important therefore to make sure teachers feel empowered to take the necessary action and, where necessary, head teachers should not shy away from expelling pupils who are persistent, serious trouble-makers and who are preventing others from getting on in the classroom.

“We shouldn’t demonise pupils, but it is nevertheless vital that teachers do not feel threatened in their own work environment.

“We therefore need to look at putting more preventative strategies in place to deal with any pupils who demonstrate a pattern of abusive behaviour towards teaching staff and other pupils.” Overall, 2013/14 saw 1879 incidents, down on 2012/13 but 16 per cent higher than 2011/12.

Alan McKenzie, spokesperson for the Scottish Secondary Teachers Association said: “These figures are much as we would expect, although they show a trend going down the way we are concerned that the number of violent attacks on teachers is on the increase.

“Once again this shows us that there is an urgent need for the Scottish government to recognise this problem and to start accepting that there is a problem, instead of claiming everything is okay. We think that there is probably an increase of reporting these incidents because we have encouraged our members to do so.

“What is needed I think is for the government to resurrect the old discipline task group from many years ago to provide solutions to the issue.” When these issues were put to the council, a spokesperson told the Reporter: “West Dunbartonshire Council takes any incidence of aggression against staff very seriously.

“A review of the policy and procedure relating to incidents of violence against staff is ongoing and as a result a new training package to support staff is being trialled in November.

“The renewed attention on this area has refreshed awareness of the current policy and this coupled with an encouragement to inform the centre of all incidents, including verbal assaults, has resulted in an increase in recorded incidents. Many of these incidents emanate from the specialist centres in West Dunbartonshire which cater for the children and young people who have a high level of, often complex, additional support needs.”