Wakefield teacher paid £8,500 in damages after being attacked by pupil

The victim suffered injuries to their lower back after trying to stop a student being attacked by a classmate, Wakefield Council said.

The incident took place between April 2015 and March 2016, but has only now been revealed following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request about compensation payouts by the local authority.

The response revealed that the council has paid out more than £2m in damages for various reasons over the last five years.

The issue of violence against school staff has been under increasing scrutiny in recent years, following the murder of Leeds teacher Ann Maguire in 2014.

An investigation last year revealed that a plastic globe, chairs and a potato were among the objects to have been thrown at local teachers by pupils since then.

Members of staff have also been spat at and egged.

Sally Kincaid, from the Wakefield branch of the National Education Union, said physical attacks on staff were "not that common, but when it happens it's horrible".

"It's an issue that's always been there," she added.

"It doesn't happen very often, but I do occasionally get calls from members reporting a serious incident.

"Every school should be a safe environment for everyone."

The council's data also revealed that the family of a school pupil received nearly £6,000 in compensation after their fingers were fractured by a door being opened onto them.

Neil Warren, the local authority's chief finance officer, said: “Unfortunately a teacher was injured at a school in the Wakefield district during the 2015/16 financial year when intervening to help a pupil who was being attacked by another student.

“This type of incident is unusual and in these circumstances compensation payments are agreed in line with the national guidance, which all local authorities follow.”

Speaking generally about the issue of teacher abuse, NASUWT General Secretary Dr Patrick Roach said: "No teacher should have to go to work with the expectation that they will be abused. All workers are entitled to a safe working environment, free from violence and disruption.

"Pupil indiscipline is now one of the main reasons given by teachers for considering leaving the profession, making it a key contributory factor to the national crisis in teacher supply.

“For too long, too many teachers have suffered in silence.

"Their physical and mental health is being affected by the failure of too many employers to support them in tackling these issues."

Local Democracy Reporting Service