Teen injured by classmate in lesson

Another teacher here - we would not leave a classroom with unsupervised students (except 6th form who can study unsupervised).
The difference between unsupervised in a classroom and unsupervised outside is that outside they can move themselves away from dangerous/bullying behaviour - they can’t do that in the classroom.

Hercisback - how about you don't forget what you need? Have it with you. I would never send a student to collect work. It isn't their job.

Yes, incidents happen in lessons when staff are present. That is entirely different to a member of staff not being present. I have two children in secondary school. My response, as a parent, to an incident in a lesson would be very different depending on a staff member being present or absent (when they should have been there).

How serious? It probably needs reporting to Riddor

Nipping out because you forgot a worksheet is absolutely OK where I am. How would you carry on the lesson without the work? Don't say send a kid because they don't know what they're looking for and sending a kid to a department office with no staff in is a safeguarding nightmare.

stupid actions can happen quickly even if teacher is in the room - aka helping other student turning to the board etc
never underestimate how quickly an adolescent can either behaviour maliciously (taking advantage of teacher's momentary distraction) or do something daft to show off or just not listen to teachers advice of waiting before they progress

A student was hurt (and I hope they are ok now) whilst a teacher had left the room they were meant to be in, with their students. A serious injury or accident, in these circumstances, would leave a teacher in a very difficult situation. I am not being arsey but am genuinely surprised by how many teachers are saying "of course it is ok to leave a classroom". Moving between classrooms to teach is really stressful and one reason why a class may be alone and it's horrible for staff. Nipping out because you forgot something? Not ok.

Teenagers, like adults, are all capable of doing dumb things with unintended consequences. If Teen A didn't intend to hurt Teen B, I'd mostly just expect an apology from Teen A.

If a severely stupid thing rather than a mildly thoughtless action, maybe some kind of disciplinary action for Teen A like a detention.

If Teen A caused the injury using school equipment that could have been secured away, maybe a change of policy from the school on securing things.

You don't state what the injury is, but whatever happened, I'm sorry a child has been hurt.

I think it must depend on the school. Ds frequently tells me of things that happened when the teacher wasn't in. I've worked in at least 2 schools where leaving a class (unless 6th form) has been cited as a safeguarding issue. You're covering yourself really.

I'm sure the teacher/school will be asked to explain , but that doesn't mean anyone will be sacked or that OP has the right to confidential employment information, should disciplinary action be deemed necessary - which it almost certainly won't

Teachers can leave a class unless there is dangerous equipment out eg science lab or tech.

This needs more context to comment further.

Of course they can leave them for a short amount of time.

Unless there is a massive drip feed about to happen about a history of bullying and your child is adamant that the injury was malicious, I would say take a deep breath and concentrate on your child. Secondary aged children are equipped with the bodies of adults and the common sense of a snail, accidents do happen as a result.

I am interested to see the statutory guidance on this so that I can alert our DSL.

Leaving the room might be something teachers deem as ok but you cannot do this (unless the circumstances are exceptional). The teacher left the room and a student was hurt. The teacher has a responsibility to explain this situation.

Students are alone at other times. They walk down corridors, they go up and down stairwells, they line up outside classrooms, they get changed after PE, they use break-out spaces during lessons. Of course there are teachers on duty in the vicinity but there is not a network of staff with 'eyes on' every square metre of a secondary school at all times. I would have concerns about the behaviour and safety of a school that felt their building was so unsafe as to require this level of vigilance.

In my experience, staff can and do leave rooms very briefly in some instances, if they deem the class mature enough. With most of my classes, I would not be too concerned by walking the 5 metres to the store cupboard for some exercise books if I had run out.

I’m a long term teacher too, of course we can leave the room

Would a teacher being there have changed anything? If it was something stupid/impetuous would the teacher have been able to prevent it?

The teacher left the room. Something happened to a student. The teacher needs to explain this. Students are not left alone at other times. Staff are on duty (this is statutory) and students know where they are as staff are visible. It is a basic that all new staff are aware of and reminded of. You never leave a class alone.

Of course teachers can leave the room! Teens are not babies; you should be able to leave them without stupid behaviour taking place.

I hope your dc is alright.

The idea that a member of staff is never allowed to leave the room at secondary is ridiculous and this certainly isn't a policy at my school. Students are often alone at the start of lessons/tutor time etc whilst teachers are travelling between classrooms, and are allowed to be in classrooms unsupervised 100% of the time at break/lunch.

Op it sounds like you're trying to shift blame to a teacher for not being in the room when really the issue lies with the child that perpetrated the action - they need to be followed up with according to the school's behaviour policy but I can't fathom why anyone would try to get a teacher into trouble for popping out the room to get a resource. As a pp said, accidents happen even with a teacher in the room.

How is it a safeguarding risk if they're allowed to be alone at other times of the day? Please explain your thoughts as I am really interested by that.

The incident could have happened at lunchtime, no teachers there!

Long time secondary school teacher. It is NOT acceptable to leave a class alone. Anyone who says this is is wrong. It is not OK to leave to retrieve a resource from somewhere else. The teacher should not have left the room. It is a safeguarding risk. Anything that happened afterwards needs to be investigated. I cannot believe the posters on here saying it is ever ok to leave a class unattended. Unless a student, or yourself, is very unwell, you never the room.

Of course the teacher can leave the room, they are not babies. If it was an accident I think you need to take it as such.