Civil actions against parents are the only way to halt the rising trends of malicious allegations, delegates agreed. Headteachers too often sided with the pupils.

Ann Attridge, Highland, said that in rural communities vendettas could build more easily. One sixth-year pupil wrote to the General Teaching Council for Scotland demanding a teacher be struck off.

But Pat O’Donnell, the union’s Scottish official, cautioned against a rush to the courts. “Teachers have an overrated view of the law as a protection. Courts of law are very hard places, very expensive and not very rewarding for individuals. What if you lose and have to face the pupil in the school again?”