To pay school for accidental damage

[Mumofboys2023]

my DS is 14 and today I have received a phone call from his head of year. They have viewed cctv of my DS lining up for class with his form group, another boy (apparently a friend “messing about”) has grabbed DS from behind and in response my DS has grabbed him back, the other child has then kicked out and smashed a glass panel in a door- accidentally. School have put DS in isolation and are asking myself and the other child’s parents to pay for any damage caused. AIBU to to state my son did not kick the door so should not pay for these damages or should I pay as he was involved in the incident? Should school not claim on their insurance?

They have insurance , I would be telling them they are lucky your son wasn’t injured or you would need to sue them .

@AdobeWanKenobi bearing in mind a huge number of our children are being taught in buildings that are liable to collapse not sure safety glass in a door is top priority!

How much do you think the premiums would be if they covered that kind of damage?

Not as high as you think . Have you delay with school insurances and injuries ? I have . School should be punishing the boys as they see fit but the responsibility and liability for injuries is 100% theirs since both children were in their care . There is not even any relevant doubt on responsibility here

Yes I’d ask to see the footage and decide from that. If not I wouldn’t agree to pay.

surely you can view the footage for purposes of this? You wouldn’t be taking a copy or
anythint.

I'd be looking at it that way primarily, too, although the school will no doubt say he was retaliating by grabbing back.

Well when my sons glasses got broken the head offered to pay for then as they have insurance. Of course they should have adequate insurance for accidental damage. I would decline that request.

Them*

No, the school have insurance. They seriously should not ask for anything.

first ask to see CCTV

how much are they asking from you?

The way they have described the situation sounds to me like your son should not be paying. I would ask to see the footage and pay if it changed my mind. If they refuse to show you the CCTV then you can only go by what they have told you which is that your son was attached from behind, grabbed his attacker and his attacker, who turned out to be his friend, kicked out at the door. This is nothing to do with your son and I wouldn't be paying based on this description. Accidental damage on the insurance. Attacker pays the excess or for the whole repair if the school prefers.

Did anyone get hurt by the glass?

At DS’s Primary school, think the Victorian windows had safety film on

@Tosire what attacker, OP’s son admitted they were mucking about.

How much are they asking for? Have you watched the cctv? Are the other family paying? Where was the adult supervisor?

Some of these answers show the problems school have, they are 14, they should take responsibility for their behaviour

I wouldn't pay. Schools don't generally pay their own insurance they are often in a bulk county wide insurance policy paid for by the council. The insurance will pay out. The school certainly can't make you. They'd have to take you to court and I doubt they'd do it.

So the first boy who started the “messing around” and who broke the actual glass then.

Also aren’t the school actually responsible for our young people when on their premises and under their care or is that just guff the heads say then to inflict some really random rules at times.

I happy support detention for rude behaviour or lack of homework, I tell my kids just because they don’t like a subject or a teacher doesn’t mean they can opt out. I’d pay if my child broke something because I’d feel bad but I wouldn’t pay because someone else’s child fucked up. Hell I support the strikes too.

Absolutely not. The other boy started it. Without his first action it wouldn't have happened. Your son didn't break it. And why did the glass break it should be reenforced so that's a failure on the schools part.

How much?

@Littledogball if an academy they have to pay their own insurance.

The glass probably has film in it, so breaks but doesn’t hurt anyone

@OhmygodDont but the OP’s son joined in by grabbing the other boy, you can imagine them wrestling each other

If your son was just acting in self-defense, you shouldn’t pay. The instigator should cover everything in that scenario. If he was joining in, you should pay.

insurance or the school budget should not be covering this. Remember, claims against insurance raise premiums so cost the school money.

I would be concerned that the glass was so easily broken, potentially deadly. I'm pretty sure there are strict regulations about building materials in schools. My guess here is that the school is at fault. I'd report it to the Health and Safety Executive.

Also report the school to Ofsted for not preventing two boys from having a tussle.

Schools are full of broken windows. If reinforced glass gets kicked it cracks. It has to be replaced as it is no longer safe. The boys are constantly kicking doors open, slamming through them , kicking them. Indoor voices, no running and polite queuing seem to be regarded as quaint old fashioned notions.

Some of these answers show the problems school have, they are 14, they should take responsibility for their behaviour

Agree with this. My reading of it was the boys were being boisterous and your son may have grabbed the other boy such that he was trying to break his hold..glass was broken so they are both responsible. There is a key message that the school has to send as others will think they are getting away with behavior. Back the school to help them maintain discipline. It will also help your son to know they are consequences. I recall 18years doing similar outside a pub and ended up with a criminal record so they need the lesson.

I would ask to see the CCTV, just so you can see how your son was behaving and ask the school if this was safety glass. They may have meant cracked so didn't shatter but will need to be replaced.