More than £75,000 paid in compensation to staff and pupils of schools in Leeds in just three years - figures revealed

A Freedom of Information request submitted by the Yorkshire Evening Post found a member of staff was paid more than £9,000 after slipping on gym equipment, a pupil was paid out more than £11,000 after tripping in school grounds and a member of staff was paid more than £6,000 after tripping on a wire.

A Leeds school pupil was also awarded more than £7,000 in compensation after being injured by a falling bookcase, the figures showed.

In total, £75,021 was awarded in compensation to successful claimants across 12 claims between 2017 and 2019.

Almost £15,000 of additional claims are still 'open' according to the figures.

A total of 90 compensation claims were submitted between 2017 and 2019 by staff and pupils of Leeds schools.

Of these, 13% have been paid out, 6% are still open and 81% have been declared 'closed' - with no damages awarded.

Chris Keates, Acting General Secretary of the NASUWT, said the claims were "a consequence of the failure of the Government to ensure that employers take health and safety seriously and the cuts made to health and safety inspections".

A Leeds City Council spokesperson said 'the safety and well being of anyone who attends or works' at Leeds school is a 'priority'.

The highest claim paid out was in 2017, where a staff member of a Leeds school was awarded £13,827.75 after slipping in school grounds.

In 2019, one student was paid £490 after the theft of a bicycle and another was awarded £360 after burning their hand on hot glue.

One member of the public was awarded more than £6000 after their foot was injured by a falling shelf on school grounds, the figures revealed.

A student fell from playground equipment in 2018 and was paid out £360.

A member of staff from a school in Leeds has an open claim for more than £4,000 due to stress, according to the figures.

Chris Keates, Acting General Secretary of the NASUWT, said 'no amount of money compensates' for the 'serious and often career-ending and health blighting injuries' suffered.

She said: “This is a consequence of the failure of the Government to ensure that employers take health and safety seriously and the cuts made to health and safety inspections.

“No amount of money compensates for serious and often career-ending and health blighting injuries.

“If employers adopted responsible and complaint health and safety practices many claims for compensation would not have to be pursued by teachers.”

A Leeds City Council spokesperson said the council only settles claims which they 'would likely to be found liable for if the claim was tried in court'.

The council said work had been done to reduce pay outs of this nature and to work with schools to 'improve their health and safety process protocols'.

The spokesperson said: “The safety and wellbeing of anyone who attends or works at our schools is always a priority to us. Any claim for compensation against Leeds City Council is thoroughly investigated and subject to robust legal process to ensure those who have been affected are treated fairly.

“The council only settles claims which, on the balance of probabilities, it would be likely to be found liable for if the claim was tried in court. Any settlement sum paid to any Claimant is strictly limited to the extent of the council’s liability.

“Much work has been and is being done to reduce pay outs of this nature by working with schools to help them improve their health and safety process and protocols."

The Yorkshire Evening Post's Your Right to Know campaign is using Freedom of Information legislation and official data to take a closer look at how your taxes are spent and how the city's public organisations are performing.

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