UK Schools in Firing Line over Compensation Payments

Two recent freedom of information requests have revealed the volume and amounts of personal injury compensation payments being made to children in UK schools.

In the first, it was disclosed that over 30,000 pounds was paid out by local education authorities in Middlesbrough between 2008 and 2011. Incidents where a child trapped their finger in a school gate (3,750 pounds) and a child fell while jumping between benches (4,500 pounds) were highlighted, with the biggest compensation settlement being for a child who was scalded by a hot drink which fell from a teacher´s desk (11,000 pounds).

Further south in Rotherham, local councils have paid out over 57,000 pounds to injured pupils during a five year period. The largest payment was made to a pupil who was injured during a trust building exercise suggested by his teacher (15,000 pounds) when he was dropped by a fellow student. Further payments were made to a pupil who suffered a head injury when struck by a falling shelf (11,000 pounds) and to a girl who broke her wrist during a trampoline accident (1,000 pounds).

Many of these personal injury claims are uncontested and settled out of court and, although schools have a duty of care to children in their protection, a spokesperson from the Campaign for Real Education warned against the dangers of frivolous claims being taken too far. James Wharton, the Conservative MP for Stockton South also added that “People should not feel entitled to claim for any minor incident, though, of course, where there has been a serious injury there needs to be redress.”