Parents clashing with teachers more since Covid – inquiry

The inquiry started its hearings last year and has already covered the impact of the pandemic on people using health and social care services.

It is now hearing from people on the frontline of education.

Graham Hutton, general secretary for the SLS and a former head teacher in Dundee, told the inquiry that pupil behaviour and attendance problems had been one of the “hidden consequences” of the pandemic.

Mr Hutton said: “What I’m hearing from my colleagues is there has been a rise in the amount of arguments they are having with parents which they probably wouldn’t have had in the past.”

Mr Hutton said scenarios where parents were “absolutely adamant that their child is right even when evidence is put to them” were now more common.

He added: “In many ways it looks to us as if they take the path of least resistance.

“They have maybe not been able to deal appropriately with young people when they have been off school and therefore they have allowed young people to do as they wish or been rather weak with setting parameters.”