A teacher in Wales was awarded £150,000 after being assaulted by a pupil, new figures have revealed.
He sustained injuries to his face, mouth and head and suffered psychological trauma after he was headbutted and punched by the pupil at a school for boys with social, emotional and behavioural issues.
The NASUWT says it took action after the man’s employer denied liability.
The court ruled in the teacher’s favour and he was awarded the compensation.
Separately, the NASUWT says an assistant headteacher was awarded over £43,000 in damages.
An employment tribunal found the 48-year-old had been unfairly dismissed.
Her school, which had been created through a merger, went through a management restructuring.
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The union argued the dismissal was unfair because suitable alternative employment was not offered and she was also made redundant from her part-time role as a teacher of art and design and the Welsh Baccalaureate.
In total, more than £14.2m in compensation was secured for NASUWT members during 2023.
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General secretary Dr Patrick Roach said the level of compensation showed the education system was “failing in its duty of care to the profession”.
“No amount of compensation can make up for the often devastating impact of physical and mental injury at work,” he said.
“Teachers have a right to be treated with dignity and to be safe when they go to work.”
