Rise in SA school violence as cops called more than 1000 times a year

Students, teachers and staff were arrested in the past two years at SA schools for violent, sexual and e-crimes offences – and others. Search to see the incidents at your school.

South Australia’s most troublesome public schools were forced to seek police help every fortnight as authorities grappled with hundreds of violent, anti-social or welfare incidents, official figures show.

New Education Department data, released under Freedom of Information laws, reveals the highest rate of SA Police attendances in three years at the state’s 900 pre, primary and high schools.

A summary of incident reports show almost two thirds of the 20 most troublesome schools recorded more attendances last year than in 2021.

Officials say all but one has enlisted a specialised mental-health worker to help.

The most common reasons were violence, run away children and “care concern” issues with a student’s psychological or physical wellbeing.

Paralowie R-12 School, Craigmore High and Playford International College, all in Adelaide’s north, had the most police interventions in the past two years, with a combined 152 incidents over 533 teaching days. Incidents ranged from violence, e-crimes to bullying.

A quarter of the most troubled schools were at regional town campuses in Murray Bridge, Mt Gambier, Whyalla, Port Augusta and Gawler.

Police were called out to schools 1014 times last year. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Morgan Sette

Almost 150 schools were forced to seek police help once in two years, the FOI data showed.

Incidents mostly relate to student behaviour but records also include adult incidents.

Department statistics show more than 5000 police incidents in state schools over the past five years.

Officers were called out 1014 times last year – the highest rate since 2019 when there were 1030 police attendances.

Police across the state dealt with rising number of incidents involving violence, drugs, intruders, bullying, weapons, injuries and sexual behaviour.

Reports of violence and bullying are on the rise at some schools across SA. Picture: 7 News

Welfare-related reasons accounted for the most number of police calls for issues including students running away or being reported as missing, care concerns, self-harm and child and strangers following or approaching a young person. Government officials said violence accounted for one in 10 calls.

School experts blamed growing student anxiety and mental health problems, which was reflective of wider society issues Australia-wide that have been exacerbated with the Covid-19 pandemic.

The state government is expected to next week allocate more money and resources for a range of anti-violence initiatives in schools, in the wake of a crisis summit.

Ministers are also lobbying the Commonwealth to help increase schools funding in 2025 for more schemes to improve wellbeing and stamp out campus violence.

More than 50 students, teachers or staff have been arrested since 2021.

Education Department rules require schools to contact SA Police for a range of incidents, such as assaults, in which first aid is required.

The policy has been tightened twice in the past two years, which officials said “set greater expectations on police reporting”.

Some senior government officials have, however, pondered if the mandatory calling of police in every incident was worthwhile, especially at primary schools, although there are no plans to review the guidelines.

Schools have been urged to continue reporting serious incidents to police.

Opposition spokesman John Gardner, who was education Minister from 2018 to March 2022, said it was right that schools continue to call police for serious incidents, which was a policy that he supported.

Screenshots from a video of students fighting at Golden Grove High School. Picture: Supplied

He blamed the particular high numbers last year for on a “cumulative effect” on the pandemic as schools faced chaos from Covid lockdowns and campus closures over the past three years.

“Every family has a reasonable expectation their child is going to be safe and getting a great education when they send them off to school,” he said.

“Ensuring our schools are safe spaces must be one of the highest priorities for the government.

“There’s no doubt that 2022 was a really difficult year in our schools after three years of Covid and significant disruption continuing to take its toll.”

He described any incident of violence in schools, or in society in general, as “troubling”.

We need to do whatever we can to address this.

“It is actually a good thing in recent years that the clear message from the department leadership is that schools should call police proactively in serious issues to protect students and teachers.

“We would hope and expect that the numbers will come down in the years ahead. In fact anything less would be quite unacceptable.”

Police were called out to schools 1014 times last year. Picture: Emma Brasier

South Australian Secondary Principals’ Association chief executive, Jayne Heath, said the data was a reflection on what was happening in the broader community and, in many instances, was outside a school’s control.

She said her interstate colleagues were reporting similar issues but schools were “working their butts off” to ensure safety and engaging classroom learning for children.

“This is a growing issue in our society and schools are not immune from that,” she said.

“There is a requirement for schools to call police and that is right because principals and teachers are not police officers and sometimes do need that additional support.”

She said when police were called this also allowed for mental health and other support services to be provided to students and their families.

The reporting of “critical incidents” to the department triggers various school support services.

There were almost 9400 “critical incidents” in 2021 – an increase of 20 per cent in 12 months and almost double in eight years.

Officials say the government has introduced key initiatives and put significant additional resources into schools to address immediate incidents and reduce violence long-term.

Authorities have deployed immediate extra resources to schools that “experienced a period of increased incidents” in recent months such as security guards, behaviour specialists, additional leadership support and parent liaisons.

Education Department reviews reported “significant success” at Whyalla Secondary College, Port Augusta Secondary School, Playford International College and Golden Grove High School.

Principals have already reported an “extremely positive” effect from the banning of mobile phones in high school classrooms including at Findon and Seaview high schools.

The ban will be statewide from Term 3 but some schools are fast-tracking prohibition including Port Augusta high school and Whyalla Secondary College.

Phones are already banned in primary schools.

Police were called out to schools 1014 times last year. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Morgan Sette

In December, Education Minister Blair Boyer convened the summit to confront surging school violence with principals, community organisations, the office of the Commissioner for Children and Young People, teachers union and other experts.

The government heard urgent work was needed to address the growing problem witnessed Australia-wide.

A longer term strategy to reduce the number of incidents in schools is being developed based on the roundtable’s feedback.

A new national curriculum will from next year have a greater focus on “respectful relationships” that authorities hope will better educates students on violence and abuse.

Mr Boyer, a father of three school-age children, said the government was rightly address poor behaviour.

Vaping and student violence – some of which had been filmed and shared to social media – are some of his biggest challenges.

“We came to government knowing our schools need better support to prevent and respond to incidents in schools – and we have not wasted a day in acting,” Mr Boyer said.

“In only 12-months, the Malinauskas Labor Government has done a huge amount of work implementing our election commitments to deliver the long-term improvements to behaviour in our schools.

“From extra mental health and learning support, to banning mobile phones in schools. We are acting to make our schools the best and safest place to get an education.

“I will take any action necessary to support our schools.”

An SA Police spokesman has urged any victims to report incidents. None of the troubled public schools would comment. Independent schools data is not publicly available.