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Schools become battlegrounds

Arena of anger: Schools have become battlegrounds in family disputes. Picture: Getty Images

State schools are often becoming battlegrounds for parental disputes, new figures reveal.

The statistics showed the number of hours security guards were stationed at schools last year was double that of the previous year.

The Education Department said security guards were needed to patrol schools because of threats to the safety of students and staff for 474 hours at a cost of $12,155 last year, compared with 233 hours at a cost of $8003 in 2013.

Threatening situations triggering the call-out of guards almost 80 times last year included domestic disputes between families taking place in schools, parents on voluntary restraining orders entering school grounds and parents trying to intimidate staff members.

A department spokeswoman said guards were sometimes required to stay at a school for several days because of problems arising from court cases involving family members of students.

In one case, a school needed a guard for 167 hours over 21 consecutive days because a continuing issue involving a parent prompted concerns for the safety of the principal and some staff.

"This accounts for the significant increase in the number of hours a guard was required that year," the spokeswoman said.

WA Council of State School Organisations president Kylie Catto said schools were forced to deal with a complex range of societal issues.

"It's a very sad reflection that some schools have had to go to that length but we do want everybody to be safe, so where there is a perceived threat we would support the use of security guards," she said.

"We'd rather see a security guard on site than a threat ignored and people getting injured - or worse."

WA Primary Principals Association president Stephen Breen had received anecdotal reports of increased agitation by parents against schools, forcing principals to call police or post guards.

"To me, it's similar to road rage, when people get quite irrational and they sometimes take it out on the school," he said.