SNP accused of ‘woke tinkering’ over plans to soften school bells for ‘anxious’ pupils

According to the most recent figures, an estimated one in three Scottish secondary pupils are routinely absent.

The report states: “Attendance rates were relatively stable between 2008/09 and 2018/19, with overall attendance in all schools remaining around 93 to 94 per cent.

“Primary schools consistently recorded the highest attendance rates (around 95 per cent), while secondary and special schools were lower, generally at around 91 to 92 per cent and 90 to 91 per cent respectively.”

It continued: “A marked decline is visible from 2020/21 onwards, with attendance falling across all sectors.

“Although rates have recovered somewhat since the low point in 2022/23, attendance in 2024/25 remains below pre-pandemic levels, particularly in secondary and special schools.”

The move comes amid the Scottish Government’s new strategy to help improve school attendance, which was summarised in a report to Holyrood’s education committee and published this year.

The report also suggested that as well as lowering the bell volume, “tweaking lighting” could also help young people “feel more comfortable”.

It says Scotland’s schools should consider whether “aspects of the physical environment, such as bell volume, lighting, noise levels and access to open spaces” could be adjusted.

Teachers are also urged in the report to avoid “ableist assumptions linking attendance to worth”, after reports of pupils feeling “anxious or judged” by messaging on absenteeism.

The report also argued that rewarding good attendance may “flout the Equality Act” by “discriminating against the disabled”.

During the Holyrood debate on the move, Reform UK MSP Senga Beresford dismissed the suggestion that children miss school because it is “a loud, brightly lit sensory nightmare”.

She argued: “Woke tinkering with lighting will do nothing. Pupils skip classes as there are no real consequences.”

Echoing Reform’s criticism, the Scottish Tories accused the SNP of “daft gimmicks” with their plan.

Education spokeswoman Meghan Gallacher MSP told the Scottish Sun: “It is frankly laughable that ministers think turning down school bells is going to solve Scotland’s schools attendance crisis.

“Instead of coming up with daft gimmicks, the SNP should be restoring discipline in our schools and giving headteachers the authority to deal with persistent truancy and bad behaviour.

“The Scottish Conservatives would put teachers back in charge of their classrooms and ensure there are real consequences when pupils refuse to follow the rules.”

In a statement, a Scottish Government spokesman said: “This guidance is intended to support local authorities and schools to develop policies with pupils and their families and it recognises that the underlying drivers of poor attendance are complex and varied.

“We are currently rerunning our national attendance campaign to support parents and carers to engage with their school to overcome the varied underlying reasons for absences.

“The last two years have seen improvements in attendance reflecting the efforts of schools, local authorities, Education Scotland and wider partners.”