Physical assaults and verbal abuse have been the main reasons for pupil exclusions across the Highlands since 2020, data shows. The majority of incidents were recorded at secondary schools, accounting for over 80 per cent of both pupil assaults and verbal abuse of staff. In 2020 there were 78 exclusions recorded across all of the region's primary schools, with 57 pupils involved. The number of primary exclusions followed a downward trend throughout 2021 until 2023. When breaking down the reasons for primary school exclusions, physical assaults against staff and fellow pupils were top of the list with 210 recorded incidents across both categories.