TEACHING union the NASUWT has won £14.3 million in compensation payouts for school workers, it said yesterday.

The scale of compensation payouts won for members was revealed ahead of the union’s three-day annual conference in Harrogate over the Easter weekend.

One union member in Wales who suffered injuries and psychological trauma was awarded £150,000 in compensation after a pupil assaulted him.

The teacher, who worked at a school for boys with social, emotional and behavioural issues, was left with injuries to his face, mouth and head after he was punched and headbutted.

The six-figure payout was among a number of cases which saw teachers awarded settlements over issues such as injuries and discrimination, as well as contractual disputes.

NASUWT general secretary Patrick Roach said: “The level of compensation we have secured for teachers who have suffered physical and mental harm, discrimination and abuse at work is an indictment of an education system that is 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.

“Teachers have a right to be treated with dignity and to be safe when they go to work. The NASUWT will never hesitate in pursuing legal remedies where employers fail in their duty of care to their staff.”

In one case, an assistant headteacher was awarded more than £43,000 in damages after it was found she had been unfairly dismissed from her job.

The 48-year-old, who also taught art and design and the Welsh Baccalaureate, was made redundant after a management restructuring at her school.