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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| False claims 'fuelled by lawyers' | False claims 'fuelled by lawyers' |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| Parents are making unfounded complaints about their children's schools in the hope of making money in out-of-court settlements, head teachers claim. | Parents are making unfounded complaints about their children's schools in the hope of making money in out-of-court settlements, head teachers claim. |
| The National Association of Head Teachers said no-win-no-fee lawyers encouraged a wave of false allegations against schools and their staff. | The National Association of Head Teachers said no-win-no-fee lawyers encouraged a wave of false allegations against schools and their staff. |
| Many parents knew a claim for less than £12,000 would often be settled out-of-court by education authorities. | Many parents knew a claim for less than £12,000 would often be settled out-of-court by education authorities. |
| The NAHT called for justice, saying reputations were being wrongly damaged. | |
| Parents know that if they put in a claim for anything up to £12,000 and it will never go to court Head teacher Dame Mary MacDonald | Parents know that if they put in a claim for anything up to £12,000 and it will never go to court Head teacher Dame Mary MacDonald |
| A report being presented to the NAHT annual conference in Bournemouth this weekend suggests that "most teachers and heads have faced false allegations at some point in their careers". | A report being presented to the NAHT annual conference in Bournemouth this weekend suggests that "most teachers and heads have faced false allegations at some point in their careers". |
| "The official view that these events are extremely rare is not borne out by the available evidence," the union said. | "The official view that these events are extremely rare is not borne out by the available evidence," the union said. |
| NAHT general secretary Mick Brookes said firms offering no-win-no-fee arrangements exacerbated the problem. | NAHT general secretary Mick Brookes said firms offering no-win-no-fee arrangements exacerbated the problem. |
| "Parents, at times, don't hesitate to go there," said Mr Brookes. | "Parents, at times, don't hesitate to go there," said Mr Brookes. |
| "It gives the green light to people to do this." | "It gives the green light to people to do this." |
| Fear of reprisals | Fear of reprisals |
| Dame Mary MacDonald, a head teacher who has herself been the subject of a malicious allegation, said parents often made complaints hoping for an out-of-court settlement. | Dame Mary MacDonald, a head teacher who has herself been the subject of a malicious allegation, said parents often made complaints hoping for an out-of-court settlement. |
| She said she had heard of cases where insurance companies advised local education authorities to settle claims that might go over £12,000. | She said she had heard of cases where insurance companies advised local education authorities to settle claims that might go over £12,000. |
| "Parents know this, they know that if they put in a claim for anything up to £12,000 and it will never go to court." | "Parents know this, they know that if they put in a claim for anything up to £12,000 and it will never go to court." |
| One head, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals against her staff, said a complaint about a PE teacher at her school was settled out-of-court, without her knowledge. | One head, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals against her staff, said a complaint about a PE teacher at her school was settled out-of-court, without her knowledge. |
| The complaint was made by the mother of a 13-year-old girl who needed hospital treatment after she hurt her ankle while jumping off a trampoline. | The complaint was made by the mother of a 13-year-old girl who needed hospital treatment after she hurt her ankle while jumping off a trampoline. |
| Tougher deterrents | Tougher deterrents |
| When the head followed up the allegation, that the teacher had not acted with due care and attention, she found the education authority had agreed to settle out-of-court, without informing her. | When the head followed up the allegation, that the teacher had not acted with due care and attention, she found the education authority had agreed to settle out-of-court, without informing her. |
| "This has caused enormous problems for my staff - the girl now says to other pupils 'Don't do that, you might hurt yourself,'" said the head. | "This has caused enormous problems for my staff - the girl now says to other pupils 'Don't do that, you might hurt yourself,'" said the head. |
| "It knocks the confidence out of staff." | "It knocks the confidence out of staff." |
| The NAHT is concerned that the names of accused teachers and head teachers is often released to the media, while the names of alleged victims is protected. | The NAHT is concerned that the names of accused teachers and head teachers is often released to the media, while the names of alleged victims is protected. |
| The union said, while the safety of children was its primary concern, too many teachers and heads were suffering the shame of unfounded allegations. | The union said, while the safety of children was its primary concern, too many teachers and heads were suffering the shame of unfounded allegations. |
| Small number | Small number |
| Mr Brookes said: "We have clear evidence that lives are being damaged and careers ruined by a failure by the law to adequately protect people who are innocent of accusations levelled against them." | Mr Brookes said: "We have clear evidence that lives are being damaged and careers ruined by a failure by the law to adequately protect people who are innocent of accusations levelled against them." |
| Dame Mary, 56, said, before she retired, she wanted to see malicious allegations punished. | Dame Mary, 56, said, before she retired, she wanted to see malicious allegations punished. |
| "I make no apology for that because I've seen it destroy some excellent colleagues' reputations and their family lives. | "I make no apology for that because I've seen it destroy some excellent colleagues' reputations and their family lives. |
| "No teacher who has been falsely accused of physical or sexual abuse should ever have to sit and look at that pupil again. | "No teacher who has been falsely accused of physical or sexual abuse should ever have to sit and look at that pupil again. |
| "And parents should be taken to court." | "And parents should be taken to court." |
| The Department for Education and Skills said it was "keenly aware" of the devastating effects of false allegations. | The Department for Education and Skills said it was "keenly aware" of the devastating effects of false allegations. |
| But a spokesman said the number of allegations made each year was "very small" as a proportion of the number of children and staff in schools. | But a spokesman said the number of allegations made each year was "very small" as a proportion of the number of children and staff in schools. |