A teacher who was assaulted by a pupil and left with life-changing injuries was awarded a six-figure sum in compensation.
The teacher, based in the east of England, suffered a brain injury, loss of sight in her left eye, loss of hearing in her left ear, bleeding kidneys, a damaged bladder and psychological injuries.
The National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) teaching union says this horrific case, which saw the teacher receive £350,000, made up part of the more than £15.1 million in settlements it secured for its members last year.
The payouts – which relate to cases where education staff were awarded settlements over injuries, discrimination, bullying in the workplace or contractual disputes – were released ahead of the union’s annual conference held in Glasgow this Easter.
Patrick Roach, general secretary from the union, said: ‘The level of compensation we have secured for teachers who have suffered physical and mental harm, discrimination and abuse at work is an indictment of an education system that is failing in its duty of care to the profession.
‘No amount of compensation can make up for the often devastating impact of physical and mental injury at work,’ he said.
Meanwhile, teachers are set to go back on strike in April and May after members of the National Education Union overwhelmingly rejected a government pay deal.
The next industrial action for education workers is planned for April 27 and May 2.
