Local councils fork out millions in compensation over 'baffling' school injury claims

Local councils across England have forked out almost £4million in compensation over "baffling" school injury claims.

Around 6,000 claims were settled over the past two years, according to figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request.

Among the more unusual payouts, Newcastle City Council awarded £4,000 to a pupil who burned their lip on a toasted marshmallow.

West Northamptonshire Council paid £20,000 after a child tripped while running towards a bouncy castle.

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Further five-figure sums were awarded over playground falls, PE lesson injuries and accidents involving hockey sticks and astroturf surfaces.

One child also received compensation after being pushed off a slide.

Campaigners have branded the trend a "growing scandal", warning it is changing how schools operate.

Shimeon Lee, policy analyst at the TaxPayers' Alliance, told the Mail: "Serious negligence deserves compensation, but some of these pay-outs will leave taxpayers baffled.

"Councils must prevent genuine safety failures without encouraging a compensation culture around ordinary accidents."

Christopher McGovern, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, blamed what he described as "greedy" no-win, no-fee solicitors.

"The compensation culture in schools has become a runaway train," he said.

"These legal vultures advertise on the internet to pull in grievance-seeking parents. Schools and local authorities choose to settle out of court in order to avoid legal costs."

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He warned the trend was "ruining childhood by causing bans on playground games, climbing trees and apparatus or out-of-school trips".

However, the figures also include cases involving serious injuries where compensation was awarded following significant failures in duty of care.

Wirral Council made one of the largest payouts, awarding £67,000 to a child who suffered an eye injury caused by a door handle.

A pupil in Islington received almost £22,000 after losing part of a finger, while Essex Council settled a £40,000 claim involving a child abused by a teacher.

Haringey Council also paid £4,460 after a pupil fell from their wheelchair while being helped from a mobility vehicle.

Guy Forster, president of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, said schools had a legal duty to protect children from avoidable harm.

"Compensation can only be claimed when there has been negligence by the school or the authority that runs it, not for simple accidents or mishaps which could never be foreseen," he said.

A Local Government Association spokesman said: "Cases are assessed by individual councils, who will work with headteachers to thoroughly assess each individual case and react accordingly."

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