Gibraltar NASUWT have welcomed the Government and the Department of Education's statement regarding violence in schools, as well as the public commitment expressed to develop constructive steps to address this serious issue.

 

A statement from Gibraltar NASUWT follows below:

 

Gibraltar NASUWT acknowledges and welcomes the public statement issued by HMGOG and the Department of Education (DOE) on 8 October 2025 regarding violence in our schools, as well as the public commitment expressed to develop constructive steps to address this serious issue.

 

However, we must challenge the premise that schools already act swiftly and appropriately whenever such incidents occur. If that were consistently the case, there would be little need for the current discussion, reflection, and drive for improvement. It is precisely the absence of a safe handling policy and the lack of clear, unequivocal guidance from the DOE that leave teachers in a precarious position when confronted with physical altercations—both on and off school premises.

 

Recently, teachers have even faced punitive measures after intervening in violent situations, despite having acted in accordance with DOE-sanctioned DCRT training. The persistence of such grey areas endangers both staff and students alike.

 

Gibraltar NASUWT wishes to publicly thank those teachers who intervened in the recent violent incident. Their actions stemmed from a deep sense of professional duty and care; despite the potential personal and professional risks they faced.

 

We agree that the majority of students consistently demonstrate responsible and respectful behaviour. It is precisely because of this that unacceptable and violent conduct must be dealt with decisively, through clearly defined policies that protect both teachers and the wider school community. The absence of firm and consistent consequences for violent behaviour is deeply damaging to the fabric of our schools and to the young, impressionable minds within them.

 

Over the past two years, the current NASUWT Executive has engaged in ongoing discussions with the DOE and HMGOG to reiterate this very point.

 

In this regard, we welcome and fully support HMGOG's position that schools must be “grounded in firm disciplinary practices that emphasise accountability” and that “serious misdemeanours must be dealt with robustly” as a visible deterrent against escalating behavioural patterns.

 

We also hope that this week’s unfortunate incident will serve as a turning point, galvanising collective will to ensure that all schools and teachers are safeguarded through the drafting of robust behavioural policies that strike an appropriate balance between disciplinary and pastoral approaches. Discipline and clear consequences should not be viewed as the opposite of restorative care, but rather as a necessary and fundamental complement to it.

 

Gibraltar NASUWT fully endorses Minister Cortes’ view that we must not adopt a passive stance towards violent incidents or their perceived “inevitability.” Instead, we must seek to prevent and curtail such behaviour through meaningful dialogue with teachers and other stakeholders.

 

The most urgent priority remains the creation of clear, concise, and practical safe handling policies that can be effectively implemented in real-world situations. We look forward to engaging openly and constructively with the DOE and HMGOG to achieve this vital objective.