Head Teacher Accused of Breaching Health and Safety Laws

According to the BBC, John Summerfield is accused of failing to take reasonable care of pupils by taking them on to the roof of Sacred Heart Catholic College in Crosby, Merseyside.

The pupil, Joel Murray, 18, fell 8ft through a skylight, fracturing his skull, in August 2008.

Magistrates at South Sefton heard Mr Summerfield will deny the charge.

The head teacher’s barrister Patrick Cassidy said Mr Summerfield would be pleading not guilty and would be pleading not guilty and wanted to be tried by a crown court jury.

In addition to a fractured skull, Joel broke his ribs, perforated an eardrum and suffered permanent damage to his eye in the fall, the Health and Safety Executive said.

The injuries suffered by Joel sound horrific and it is difficult to understand without further details what possible reason Mr Summerfield could have for taking pupils on to the roof of the building. While it appears that Mr Summerfield is the one being prosecuted for what happened, it would be the school itself that would be held to be at fault under the Occupiers Liability Act 1957 if Mr Summerfield was found to have failed to reach the standard of care required, for the purposes of any personal injury claim that Joel might choose to bring. With a list of such serious injuries Joel would be entitled to considerable compensation.