Teacher nets £280,000 after attack by pupil

A TEACHER violently assaulted by a pupil in a random attack was yesterday awarded more than a quarter of a million pounds in compensation.

Sharon Lewis Compensation Sharon Lewis: Compensation

Special needs teacher Sharon Lewis, 31, was assaulted by a 13-year-old boy as she supervised a “tuck trolley”. Without warning, the teenager grabbed hold of her before jumping on her back and placing her in a headlock.[>

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Her repeated calls for him to stop were ignored and she fell, hitting the wall and a window, before landing on the floor. Miss Lewis said last night: “It was really frightening. It was a totally random attack.”[>

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After the April 2004 incident she suffered post-traumatic stress, flashbacks, nightmares, memory and concentration problems as well as neck and back pain. It means she cannot return to teaching.[>

I’m angry at a system where encountering violence is now an expectation of the job

Teacher Sharon Lewis

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Miss Lewis had worked at Woodlands Special School, Aspley, Nottinghamshire.[>

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The NASUWT union yesterday confirmed Miss Lewis was awarded £280,000 from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. The pay-out is believed to be one of the highest awarded to a teacher. Miss Lewis added: “I’m not angry at the pupil. I’m angry at a system where encountering violence is now an expectation of the job.”[>

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NASUWT general secretary Chris Keates said: “Regrettably, there is still a culture in some schools that being assaulted is all part of the job.”[>

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