Improving relationships and behaviour in schools: ensuring safe and consistent environments for all. Joint action plan 2024 - 2027: 2nd Annual Progress Report

Introduction

As part of the Programme for Government 2024-25 and 2025-26, the Scottish Government committed to reporting annually on progress towards delivery of the relationships and behaviour in schools action plan 2024-27.

The second annual progress report has been developed in partnership with COSLA and members of the Scottish Advisory Group on Relationships and Behaviour in Schools (SAGRABIS). This reflects the joint ownership of the plan between Scottish Government and COSLA and the oversight provided by SAGRABIS.

All members of SAGRABIS share the ambition of improving relationships and behaviour in schools, and a collective commitment to act in support of the implementation of the plan. SAGRABIS met four times during 2025/26 to monitor the implementation of the action plan. In addition, SAGRABIS members have participated in working groups informing specific actions within the plan.

Context to this report

The development of the relationships and behaviour in schools action plan (“the action plan”) was informed by the Behaviour in Scottish Schools Research (“BISSR”) 2023, as well as evidence gathered from representative organisations and individuals through the Relationships and Behaviour in Scottish Schools Summits, the Headteachers Task Force, and professional organisations’ surveys.

This evidence showed that while most children are well behaved most or all of the time, there had been an increase in disruption in classrooms, disengagement from learning, and physical and verbal aggression since BISSR last published in 2016. There was also a recognition of the complex picture underpinning the trends in behaviour including the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on social and emotional skills, other pressures such as the impact of austerity and the cost-of-living crisis, and an increase in the number of pupils identified with additional support needs. The actions identified within the plan therefore take a holistic approach to reinforcing and improving relationships and behaviour recognising the influence of a range of different factors, and the need for preventative approaches, as well as targeted responses.

Summary of Progress

The action plan sets out 20 actions, under 8 themes, to be delivered by March 2027. This is the second progress report, covering activity between April 2025 and March 2026. Information on progress between November 2023 and March 2025 can be found in the first annual progress report.

Progress has been made across all 20 actions within the plan.

Given the three-year timeframe of the plan, some actions are not yet scheduled to have commenced or span multiple years of the plan. This progress report therefore details activity that has been completed that contributes to the overall delivery of each action. Where activity is underway but not yet completed, progress that has been made is highlighted within the plan.

Progress report structure

In order to ensure ease of reading and visibility in progress towards delivery of the action plan, this report is structured to align with the eight themes of the action plan and the actions within that.

A summary of priority activity for phase 3 of the action plan (activity to March 2027) is included at the end of the report.