A “CULTURE of no consequences” has left underfunded Scottish secondary schools disrupted by an unruly minority of violent pupils, teachers warned today.

Scottish Secondary Teachers Association (SSTA) president Kevin Campbell said a push to integrate disruptive students into mainstream education was failing due to inadequate support.

“No-one can philosophically challenge the merits of inclusion,” he said.

“As an idea in a fair and democratic society, it is absolutely right. My issue with inclusion is firmly in the context of underfunded schools, facing ever deeper cuts, serving our poorer catchment areas.”

He said Scotland had created “an illusion in our schools” of “a society where you don’t have to answer for your actions.”

“Actions have consequences,” he added.

“Our young people need to learn this. We are abrogating our responsibility to our charges when we allow them to think that they can behave in any manner they wish and that it won’t have negative effects for them. It will.

“We need to end the culture of ‘no consequences’ and introduce a culture of respect.

“To some this may sound reactionary. It is not. It is about protecting the dignity of the majority of pupils and our members at their work.”

Delegates endorsed a motion warning that “unauthorised absenteeism, violent incidents and poor behaviour have a negative impact on the learning environment and also create additional stress and workload for both pupils and teachers.”

Sandra Richardson, a teacher in Lothian, said schools should be “about providing a safe place which is a real alternative to their chaotic lives.”

She warned, however, that funding cuts had resulted in a “costly and destructive time bomb” hanging over Scotland’s schools.