SA schools reported more than 10,200 critical incidents in 2022

New figures reveal the scary and strange incidents occurring in South Australia’s public schools.

Reports of violence, bullying, drug taking and other serious incidents at public schools have soared past 10,000 in a year, prompting a frank admission from the state’s Education Minister.

Latest data shows 10,256 critical incidents were reported last year – up more than 1100 on the previous 12 months.

Violent incidents spiked by more than 550 to 2915 and there were more cases of verbal abuse, alleged serious misconduct by staff, intruders on campus and runaways.

This year, The Advertiser has reported on a string of attacks by students on classmates including at Mark Oliphant College, Whyalla Secondary College and Hamilton Secondary College.

Education Minister Blair Boyer conceded there had been “huge jumps” in serious incidents in public schools in recent years but argued he had swiftly delivered extra support since becoming minister in March 2022.

Education Minister Blair Boyer says South Australian schools are “overwhelmingly” safe environments. NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

This included deploying security guards, behaviour specialists, parent liaisons and other support for principals, he said.

The government has also banned the use of mobile phones by students in public schools.

“I recognise classrooms are more complex than what they were 20 or even 10 years ago,” Mr Boyer said.

“We know there has been a rise in incidents in schools, particularly huge jumps from 2020, so upon coming into government I immediately began the work to ensure long-term improvements in our schools. We are taking this very seriously.”

There are about 170,000 students enrolled across about 900 public preschool, primary and high school campuses across South Australia.

The annual number of reported critical incidents has been climbing steadily from 6050 in 2016.

Education Department data shows in 2022 there were 2116 injuries or illnesses (up from 1663 in 2021), which reflects rising cases of Covid-19, influenza and other infectious diseases as the state moved away from pandemic restrictions.

There were 1432 reports of verbal abuse, 1310 incidents of self-harm and 622 reports of drug or alcohol use.

Schools called for help in 91 emergency incidents, had to dial a snake catcher 19 times and made 17 reports about national security concerns, up from four the previous year.

A critical incident is defined as a “significant, unusual or threatening event” that can be disruptive, contentious, create significant danger and risk or attract media scrutiny.

Incidents mostly relate to student behaviour but records also include incidents involving parents verbally abusing teachers or students reporting abuse by adults in the home.

Police attend campuses for serious injuries, self-harm, violence or to hunt an intruder.

There were 57 arrests at schools in 2022.

Opposition education spokesman John Gardner says Covid-19 disruptions have added to critical incident reports in schools. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

Opposition education spokesman, and former education minister, John Gardner said teachers had told him 2022 was “a hard year in our schools”.

“As a result of people living with Covid-19 there was disruption, students and teachers coming in and out of class,” Mr Gardner said.

“Complexities in the community have been increasing too, rising levels of mental health challenges and alcohol and other drugs … and we can see that reflected in our schools.”