Myth: If a pupil is hurt, the teacher is likely to be sued

Myth: If a pupil is hurt, the teacher is likely to be sued

The reality

The main legal duties lie with the employer, not the teacher – or even the head teacher, unless they own the school and employ the staff.

We can’t find a single instance in the past five years of a teacher being personally sued for compensation.

Over the years a handful of teachers have been prosecuted following very serious incidents, but only where they failed to follow direct instructions and departed from common sense.

Teachers who act responsibly will be on the right side of the law.