In the most recent school year, 780 incidents of violence were recorded in Schleswig‑Holstein schools – a drop of roughly 30 % from the previous year but still the second‑highest total since the monitoring began. Schools have been required to log such cases in a statewide database for seven years, a system that saw numbers surge after the pandemic before falling again.
Violence in Schools: Special‑Needs Centres Most Affected
Förderzentren logged the highest number of offenses, representing roughly 42 % of all cases. While most schools reported only isolated incidents, two centres stood out with 73 and 81 entries respectively. Community schools contributed about 37 % of the total. The bulk of incidents involved younger pupils, chiefly those in grades 1‑4.
Student Groups Most Frequently Targeted
Peer‑to‑peer aggression dominated, with 344 cases involving students against other students. Teachers were victimised in 181 incidents, and 119 reports involved other school personnel. Physical attacks made up 72 % of all entries, while psychological violence accounted for about one‑fifth. Approximately half of the incidents were linked to pupils with special‑educational needs, and another 330 cases stemmed from mental‑health pressures.
Rising Pressure on Pupils
Marina Griesbach, deputy state chair of the GEW and teacher at a school with many socially disadvantaged students, said the trend mirrors growing social inequality. She noted increasing academic pressure, teacher shortages and insufficient school‑social‑work resources, which she believes fuel conflicts that now “escalate faster.”
“Es wird nicht mehr nur gerangelt. Wenn es knallt, dann knallt es richtig.” – Marina Griesbach, GEW
Criticism of the Data Collection
The FDP parliamentary group warned that the database may not fully capture school realities. Griesbach added that only incidents leading to exclusion from class are logged, meaning many cases go unnoticed.
GEW Calls for More School‑Social Workers
Griesbach argues that monitoring alone cannot solve the problem. She urges concrete steps: expanding school‑social‑work staff and strengthening ties between schools and youth welfare offices.
Education Ministry Acknowledges Ongoing Need for Action
The ministry regards the monitoring tool as essential for pinpointing where schools need extra support. Through the Institute for Quality Development in Schools (IQSH), the state provides prevention concepts, teacher training and consultancy, emphasizing that prevention must become a lasting element of school development.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many violent incidents were reported in the last school year?
780 cases of violence were reported.
Which type of schools accounted for the largest share of incidents?
Special‑needs centres (Förderzentren) were responsible for about 42 % of all reported cases.
What proportion of incidents involved physical attacks?
Physical attacks comprised 72 % of all recorded incidents.
What measures do you think could most effectively reduce school violence in Schleswig‑Holstein?