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Most teachers 'face false claims' False claims 'fuelled by lawyers'
(about 5 hours later)
Most school heads and teachers have faced false allegations from pupils or parents, a head teachers' union says. 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 problem is under-played and incidents are less unusual than some claim, according to the National Association of Head Teachers. The National Association of Head Teachers said no-win-no-fee lawyers encouraged a wave of false allegations against schools and their staff.
The union says false claims can have devastating results. It accuses the government of taking minimal action. Many parents knew a claim for less than £12,000 would often be settled out-of-court by education authorities.
The government says there is anonymity while claims are checked but pupils must be protected as well as teachers. The NAHT called for justice saying reputations were being wrongly damaged.
A report being presented at the annual conference of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) this weekend will say evidence suggests that "most teachers and heads have faced false allegations at some point in their careers". 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
"The official view that these events are extremely rare is not borne out by the available evidence. 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 allegations are often made public, with devastating consequences for the individuals and their families." "The official view that these events are extremely rare is not borne out by the available evidence," the union said.
Anonymity NAHT general secretary Mick Brookes said firms offering no-win-no-fee arrangements exacerbated the problem.
The report details cases where heads or teachers have been falsely accused of striking pupils or parents. "Parents, at times, don't hesitate to go there," said Mr Brookes.
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 Mick Brookes, NAHT The union complains the names of the accused get into the media, while the alleged victim is often anonymous. "It gives the green light to people to do this."
Government guidelines - revised in 2005 - say teachers in England accused of abusing children should not automatically be suspended. Fear of reprisals
Their cases must be dealt with speedily and accused staff should enjoy anonymity while investigations continued. 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.
But teachers and head teachers want the right to anonymity enshrined in the law because the claims are often leaked to the media. She said she had heard of cases where insurance companies advised local education authorities to settle claims that might go over £12,000.
Two mothers turned up, obviously very angry, and one of them accused me of slapping her child Dame Mary MacDonald class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6623607.stm">One head teacher's story Union general secretary Mick Brookes says in the report: "This inversion of justice has continued for long enough. "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."
"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." 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 government rejects the claim that it is not doing enough to protect teachers and head teachers from malicious accusations - and says children have to be protected too. 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.
A spokesman for the Department for Education and Skills said: "The department is keenly aware of the devastating effect that false or unfounded allegations can have on a person's health, family, and career, and the effect publicity also have. Tougher deterrents
"Regrettably, some allegations of abuse are true, however, and being abused by a person in a position of trust and authority, such as a teacher, can have similar devastating effects on a child. 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.
"It must be remembered that the number of allegations made each year is very small as a proportion of the children and staff in our schools." "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."
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.
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."
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.
"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."
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.