1,000 injured in Scotland’s crumbling schools

Posted: April 8, 2014

Posted in: Public Place Accidents School Accidents Workplace Injuries 

Over the last year, around 1,000 staff members and pupils have suffered injuries as a result of the poor structural condition of Scotland’s schools. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) received more than 600 reports of accidents involving pupils and visitors at educational institutions in Scotland, with most of them requiring hospital treatment. On top of this, they also received over 400 reports of teachers and school staff badly injured. 

Schools have been advised by the HSE to only report serious injuries caused by either “the condition of the premises”, inadequate supervision or faulty equipment. An investigation into the HSE reports found that, on average, around 20 pupils, visitors, teachers and other employees are seriously injured in Scotland’s schools every week.

Following the recent death of 12-year-old Keane Wallis-Bennett, politicians have criticised the “poor condition” of many of Scotland’s schools, arguing that there is a severe shortage of investment going towards improvements.

‘£1.25bn investment’

The investigation also found that more than 100,000 children have been educated in dilapidated buildings, with some not due to see improvements for years to come.

A spokeswoman from the Scottish Government said it was working alongside councils to improve the state of schools.  She added:

“The Scottish Government is putting significant investment into the £1.25billion Scotland’s Schools for the Future programme, which is undertaken by working in partnership with local authorities to tackle the worst condition of schools.”

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