School Child Abuse Claims

How much compensation you receive for an abuse claim depends on a number of factors that vary from case to case. When calculating your compensation, we take a number of things into account, including:

• The type of abuse experienced
• The extent of the abuse, and how long it's gone on for
• Physical injuries experienced as a result, and any treatment needed both now and, in the future
• Psychological trauma, and any therapy or counselling needed both now and, in the future
• Impacts on your ability to find work as a result of abuse.

The compensation you receive may also depend on who the claim is being made against. We'll investigate and advise on whether it's possible to make a claim against an abuser, an organisation they worked with, or an organisation that should have done more to protect you from abuse, and this may affect your settlement.

School is meant to be a safe place for children to learn, but abusers and paedophiles in positions of trust and authority can take advantage of young people in their care.
Sexual, physical or emotional abuse can be committed by anyone working for or involved with a school, including:

• Teachers, lecturers and professors
• Cleaners
• Support staff
• Volunteers
• Religious figures associated with the school
• Other pupils.

Understanding who takes final responsibility for child abuse in schools is a complex issue, and this is where our experienced lawyers can help. We'll determine whether a claim needs to be made against the individual who committed the abuse, or against a wider organisation who failed to protect you.

This abuse can happen in the school, or elsewhere - for example, while on school trips or residential stays. Abusers may also use their position of authority to gain access to a victim outside of the school environment too.

Whether you were subjected to abuse recently or many years ago, we may still be able to help you claim compensation from the school involved, a local authority responsible for the school, or a school's insurer.

In general, you have three years to make a claim, from the date your injury happened or from when you first became aware of it. For children, the three-year time limit begins on their 18th birthday.
These time limits do not apply to people who are unable to manage their own affairs because of mental incapacity.

There are also different time limits if your injury or illness happened outside of England and Wales – for example, during international travel or if a defective product is involved. Time limits will vary and can often be much shorter than three years. no win no fee agreements can still be used to fund cases involving an injury abroad.