If you or your child has been injured in an accident at school, you could be entitled to claim thousands of pounds in compensation.
We are a trusted claims management company helping people make personal injury claims for over 15 years.
School Accident Claims
If you are the parent of a child who has been injured at school, or if you have suffered an injury while on school premises, you may be eligible to make a school accident claim.
All schools have a duty of care to ensure the safety of their pupils and protect all parents, staff, and visitors to the site from any risks to their health or well-being.
If a school fails in its duty of care and you suffer an injury or illness as a result, you may be entitled to compensation for your pain, suffering and any related financial losses.
For a free and confidential case assessment, contact our team by calling 0800 470 0472 or arrange a call back. They will let you know within minutes if you can proceed and guide you through all the steps of the claims process.
Key points about school accident claims
- Can I make a school accident claim? If the school breaches its duty of care and it results in a personal injury to you or your child, you may be able to claim compensation.
- What are schools responsible for? All schools have a duty of care to protect the safety of their students, visitors, teachers and other members of staff.
- Is there a time limit? A parent or legal guardian can make a claim on behalf of a child at any point before their 18th birthday. If the child is now over 18, they can make the claim themselves up until their 21st birthday.
- How much compensation can I claim? How much compensation you can claim will depend on the type and severity of the injury and any financial losses, such as medication or physiotherapy costs.
- Will I have to pay legal fees? You can claim against a school on a no win no fee basis. This means there are no upfront costs and nothing to pay if your claim is unsuccessful.
Table of Contents
In this guide to school-related accidents, we will answer some of the most common questions you may have if you or your child has been injured at school.
This includes the steps you should take if you suffer an injury at school, who is responsible for school safety, how a solicitor can help you make a claim and how much compensation you could be eligible to receive.
What is a school accident claim?
A school accident claim is a type of personal injury claim that can be made by someone who is injured on the premises of a school, including:
- The parent or legal guardian of a child under 18.
- Students over 18 years old injured on school premises.
- A teacher or other member of staff who has had an accident at work.
- A school visitor, such as a parent injured during a school meeting.
The party injured in a school accident may be entitled to compensation for physical injuries, emotional distress and any related financial losses.
Am I eligible to make a school accident claim for compensation?
You may be eligible to make an accident at school claim if you were injured on school premises and the following can be proven:
- The school owed you a legal duty of care to keep you safe from harm.
- That duty was breached, and your accident occurred as a result.
- You suffered an injury or illness as a result.
- You are within the legal time limit for starting a claim (usually 3 years for adults, with different time limits applying in some cases, such as for children or people who lack mental capacity).
A personal injury solicitor can assess whether you are eligible to claim for an accident at school during a free initial consultation over the phone.
Contact our friendly legal advisors to discuss your claim today.
Examples of how school accident claims can arise
The examples below show how school accident claims can arise in practice where a school has failed in its duty of care.
Schools have a duty to ensure that foreseeable hazards are properly managed. In this case, failing to display warning signage or restrict access to the area may amount to negligence.
Evidence included the school’s cleaning schedule, incident reports and witness statements from staff and pupils.
The claim was settled for £3,000, reflecting the injury and the short-term impact on the child’s daily activities.
This example shows how a claim may be possible where a school fails to take reasonable steps to manage known hazards.
Schools are expected to carry out regular inspections and maintenance of equipment. If a defect is identified but not repaired within a reasonable timeframe, liability may arise.
Maintenance records showed that the issue had been reported prior to the accident but had not been resolved.
The claim resulted in a settlement of £5,500, taking into account the injury and recovery period.
This example highlights how a claim may arise where a school fails to maintain equipment to a safe standard.
Schools must provide adequate supervision, particularly during activities with an increased risk of injury. Leaving pupils unsupervised in these circumstances may be considered a breach of duty.
Witness statements and school policies on supervision were used to assess whether appropriate procedures had been followed.
The claim was settled for £4,200, based on the nature of the injury and its impact.
This example shows how a claim may be possible where a lack of supervision contributes to an avoidable accident.
These examples are for illustrative purposes only. Every claim is different, and eligibility will depend on the specific circumstances.
Can I make a school accident claim on behalf of my child?
Yes, you can make a compensation claim on behalf of your child if they were injured in an accident on school premises and a breach of duty can be established.
If you can proceed with a claim for school injury compensation, your solicitor will help you apply to the court to be named as your child’s litigation friend. This will enable you to start a school accident claim on their behalf.
Common reasons for claiming school compensation for an injured child include inadequate supervision, faulty playground equipment, classroom hazards and food poisoning.
Who is responsible for the safety of children and staff in schools?
All nurseries, early years, primary schools and secondary education schools have a duty of care towards children, staff and visitors. This duty is set out by Section 175 of the Education Act 2002 and the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 and includes:
- Carry out risk assessments and respond quickly to hazards.
- Provide a safe and hazard-free learning environment.
- Ensure adequate supervision during lessons, breaks, PE, and school trips.
- Maintain school buildings, playgrounds and equipment in a safe condition.
- Ensure staff receive proper training in health and safety procedures.
If any of these school responsibilities or duties are breached and an injury occurs, the school may be held liable for compensation.
What is the time limit for making a school injury compensation claim?
The time limit to start a school accident compensation claim is typically three years from the date of injury. The court may allow a claim to proceed outside this period in limited circumstances, and a few specific exceptions apply under the Limitation Act 1980:
- If a child is injured, the three-year time limit is suspended until the child’s 18th birthday. A litigation friend can make a child injury claim at any time before that.
- The three-year time limit does not apply if the injured person is an adult who lacks the mental capacity to make a claim.
- If you lost a loved one because of a school’s negligence, you generally have three years to make a fatal accident claim from the date of death or the date of knowledge of negligence, whichever is later.
How do I make an accident at school claim for compensation?
Making a claim for compensation following a school accident is straightforward with the right support and typically involves these steps:
- A free case assessment – A trained legal adviser will review what happened and ask a few simple questions to determine if you are able to make a claim.
- Gathering evidence – Your solicitor will help collect evidence showing the school breached its duty of care, such as medical records, witness statements and official reports.
- A letter of claim – Your lawyer will send a letter of claim to the school or their insurer, including details about the case and the compensation sought.
- Negotiation – Your solicitor will negotiate with the insurer until an agreement can be reached on a fair amount of compensation.
- Court proceedings – If negotiations fail, your lawyer will prepare to take your case to court, but personal injury claims rarely go to trial.
How much compensation can you claim for an injury at school?
The amount of compensation you can claim for your accident and injuries will depend on two types of damages. General damages cover pain, suffering and loss of amenity, while special damages cover related financial losses and expenses.
The examples below are based on the Judicial College Guidelines, 18th Edition, which solicitors and courts use to assess compensation for injuries caused by accidents at school. These figures are guidelines only – how much compensation you can claim will depend on your specific circumstances.
| Injury Type | Description | Compensation Range |
|---|---|---|
| Arm Injuries | A simple forearm fracture | £8,700 - £25,000 |
| Wrist Injuries | A minor wrist fracture or soft tissue damage recovering within a year | £4,700 - £6,300 |
| Brain Damage | A brain injury with full recovery within three years | £2,900 - £17,000 |
| Damage To Teeth | Loss or serious damage to one front tooth | £2,900 - £5,200 |
| Injuries Affecting Sight | Complete sight loss in one eye | £65,000 - £72,000 |
| Knee Injuries | A moderate knee injury causing minor instability or weakness | £20,000 - £35,000 |
| Leg Injuries | A fractured tibia or fibula, or a soft tissue injury | Up to £16,000 |
| Back Injuries | A minor back injury recovering fully within 3-12 months | £3,200 - £5,800 |
| General Psychiatric Damage | Psychiatric damage affecting life, education, work and relationships, but with good improvement and prognosis | £7,700 - £25,000 |
| Scarring To The Face | Facial scarring causing substantial disfigurement and significant psychological impact | £24,000 - £64,000 |
Can I make a school accident claim with a No Win No Fee solicitor?
If you have a valid school accident claim, your solicitor will offer you a no win no fee agreement. This means you do not have to pay them any upfront fees, and you can take legal action regardless of your financial situation.
The best part is that you do not have to pay your solicitor’s legal fees if your claim is unsuccessful. Only if they win compensation will a success fee (capped at 25% of certain parts of your damages) be deducted from your compensation to pay your solicitor for their work.
What are the most common types of accident at school claims?
Some of the most common circumstances that result in successful school accident claims include:
- Slips, trips, and falls are some of the most common accidents in schools. They are often caused by wet or slippery floors, pavement defects, trailing cables, and obstacles left in walkways.
- Playground accidents are some of the most common causes of a child’s accident at school. A playground accident claim can result from inadequate supervision or a lack of safety mats.
- Accidents caused by faulty equipment, such as playground equipment, classroom furniture, electrical devices or school bus seats. These can cause cuts, burns, electrocution and even fires.
- Sports and PE lesson accidents can be due to poor supervision, unsafe playing surfaces, a lack of protective equipment or bad training.
- Road traffic accidents that are due to poorly trained bus drivers, poor bus maintenance or other road users can lead to a school bus accident claim.
- Accidents outside of school can happen while visiting a local park, educational facility or swimming pool and could entitle you to make a school trip accident claim.
Contact our friendly legal advisors to discuss your claim today.
What injuries are most commonly caused by accidents in a school?
Accidents on school premises can cause minor to serious injuries, including:
- Lacerations from sharp objects, faulty school furniture or falls.
- Sprains and strains from slips, trips, falls, or incidents during PE classes.
- Broken bones and dislocations from a hard fall or blunt force trauma.
- Head and back injuries caused by falls from playground equipment or being hit by an object.
- Burns and scalds from hot beverages, chemicals in science labs or electrical hazards.
- Food poisoning and allergic reactions from unsafe food and drinks.
- Psychological injuries caused by bullying and traumatic accidents.
What evidence is needed to make a school accident compensation claim?
Whether you are an injured school staff member or the parent of an injured child, you need various types of evidence to make a personal injury claim against a school, such as:
- Photos of the accident scene and the injuries sustained.
- CCTV or video footage of the accident, if available.
- A copy of a formal accident report filed with the school.
- Medical records and assessment detailing the injuries and prognosis.
- Statements from witnesses and formal investigation reports.
- Documents proving related financial losses and expenses.
Frequently asked questions
- Insufficient adult supervision.
- Ignoring bullying, harassment or repeated complaints.
- Failing to take action against a pupil with a history of aggression.
- Mishandling a conflict between students.
- A lack of proper training to manage behavioural issues.
Read more: How long does a personal injury compensation claim take?
However, if you secure compensation on behalf of a child injured at school, you must go to an Approval Hearing in court. A judge will review the awarded settlement and verify that it is fair and reasonable.
If a school accident claim is successful, the compensation is paid out by this insurance policy, not from the school’s education budget or by individual staff members.
However, if a child is awarded compensation, the law usually requires the money to be held in a court bank account or personal injury trust and released to the child on their 18th birthday, including any interest accrued.
Your solicitor can help you apply for early release of the funds to cover essential care or education costs.
To find out if you may be able to claim compensation for a school accident, call 0800 470 0472 today or request a call back for a free consultation with a legal adviser.
In partnership with:
We work in partnership with National Accident Helpline (a brand of National Accident Law, a firm of personal injury solicitors regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority). They are the leading provider of personal injury services in the UK.
By submitting your details, you consent to being contacted by a friendly and experienced legal service adviser from National Accident Law who will provide you with free, no-obligation advice.
If you win your case, your solicitor’s success fee will be taken from the compensation you are awarded – up to a maximum of 25%. Your solicitor will discuss any fees before starting your case.
