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Hillpark Secondary in Glasgow is today named as the most violent school in Scotland, with 120 pupil exclusions for fighting, assaulting staff and carrying weapons last year.

Across Scotland, pupils were expelled or suspended on 5,900 occasions following violent incidents. In primary schools there were 400 exclusions.

Statistics compiled by the country’s 32 local authorities show unruly pupils were barred from school at a rate of more than 100 each week in 2007-08.

Shawlands Academy, also in Glasgow, had the second worst record for violence, with 98 exclusions for fighting, including six cases where a member of staff was assaulted.

St Matthew’s secondary school in North Ayrshire reported 90 exclusions, while at Our Lady and St Patrick’s High in West Dunbartonshire, violent behaviour led to 66 exclusions.

The worst primary school was Benarty in Lochgelly, Fife, which recorded 29 assaults by children, a third of which were against staff. Pupils at Camstradden primary in Drumchapel were also among the worst behaved, with 24 violent incidents, while the number at Strathmore primary in Angus was 20.

More than 100 violent incidents recorded involved the use of an “improvised weapon” against teachers and pupils. The figures, obtained under freedom of information legislation, have raised concern that pupil safety is at risk from a rising tide of violent behaviour.

Opposition politicians say head teachers need more powers to discipline pupils amid fears that students exploit their lack of authority. A hard core of about 2,000 pupils are regularly suspended or expelled.

“It’s unacceptable that the figures are as high as this, but in the majority of cases these children are being left out on the streets, with nothing constructive to do,” said Liz Smith, the schools spokeswoman for the Scottish Conservatives.

“Head teachers should have more powers in matters of discipline without having to wade through red tape. That would help build trust and respect between staff and pupils.”

Ken McIntosh, the education spokesman for Scottish Labour, said: “Much more needs to be done. The worrying thing is that the most serious assaults seem to be on the rise. Parents need to take more responsibility because there are far too many families where there’s an absence of discipline.”

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