Concerns have been raised about a "lack of response and action" regarding disruptive pupil behaviour in Fife.

Fife MSP Alex Rowley highlighted the issue in a question to Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth MSP in the Scottish Parliament.

Mr Rowley asked when the Education Secretary would "move beyond plans and guidance and start to look at what resources are needed to address the issues" of pupil behaviour in Fife schools.

This follows a survey by the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), which found that two-thirds of teachers in Fife were considering leaving the profession due to disruptive, challenging, or violent pupils.

Mr Rowley said that EIS Fife and Unison Fife had raised concerns about "the level of additional support needs in Fife that are not being addressed."

They also highlighted the need for more pupil support assistants and additional support teachers, as well as improved pupil support services.

Mr Rowley said: "The issue of escalating disruptive behaviour in Fife schools is something I have been raising and teachers have been raising with me for far too long now.

"Despite the Education Secretary’s 'relationship and behaviour summits' last year, it is clear that teachers still do not feel like they have the support they need to tackle disruptive, challenging or violent behaviour in the classroom.

"It is not right that teachers are going to their workplaces and being subject to behaviour that is making them feel like they need to leave teaching in order to get away from the problem."

He noted that the Cabinet Secretary had mentioned an increase of 725 pupil support assistants across Scotland, but said this was not enough given the number of schools and the concerns of teachers.

He added: "The time for warm words is over – this is an issue, not just for Fife, but across Scotland.

"We need to see serious action."

He urged the Education Secretary to work with Fife Council to tackle the problem before more teachers leave the profession.