Teacher abuse and discrimination leads to nearly £15 million in compensation in 2018

Teachers across the UK have been awarded £14.9m in compensation over the past 12 months after suffering “appalling treatment” in attacks from pupils and discrimination at work, a teachers’ union has claimed.

In 2018, the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) reported an increase in cases relating to discrimination by employers towards its members. These cases included members being subjected to discriminatory practices concerning pregnancy-related and flexible-working requests, race and age discrimination, sexual orientation and religion.

It was also reported that a 54-year-old disabled member of teaching staff received £45,000 after being unfairly dismissed for querying why reasonable adjustments had not been put in place to enable him to do his job. The teacher had requested disabled parking spaces be kept free for those with disabilities and an interactive whiteboard for his classroom. His employers were aware of his multiple disabilities, including a form of arthritis, gout and diabetes.

A 33-year-old teacher from South Yorkshire received £10,000 after being racially abused more than a dozen times by students over the course of 18 months, the NASUWT union said.

NASUWT general secretary, Chris Keates, commented on the findings:

“These figures mask the anxiety, stress and distress many teachers will have suffered at the hands of their employers before seeking out help. But they also represent what we believe is only the tip of the iceberg.”

A spokeswoman for the Department of Education concluded:

“No teacher should face discrimination or ill-treatment in the workplace. The majority of schools provide safe and reasonable working environments for teaching staff, and it’s important that they remain as such.”

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