Would you sue your school?

A student took legal action against a top boarding school after she was left permanently disabled following a 15ft fall from a window.

The 16 year old student at Oundle School, near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, fell 15ft from a first floor window during a Valentine’s Day ball at her school in February 2005 after drinking with her friends.

The girl claimed that the accident happened as a result of the “drinking culture” teachers had allowed to form at the school.

According to the school rules, sixth formers are permitted to drink beer, cider and wine at social events or when a substantial meal is being served.

The girl stated that she had consumed “a combination of alcoholic drinks” at 6pm with her peers as they prepared for the ball, and continued to drink at 8pm after the meal.

A teacher at the ball said: “As [the girl] went to the toilet she was bouncing off an architrave and didn’t look totally in control of her body movements.”

The teacher then sent the girl away to her room to “cool off” under the supervision of another student.

According to the writ, the girl had later made her way back to the ball and was then escorted back to her room.

However, within about ten minutes of being in her room, the girl “leaned so far out the window that she fell out,” falling 15ft to the ground.

As a result, she was left permanently disabled suffering from partial paraplegia, which can lead to the paralysis of the limbs and other complications.

She is now seeking public liability compensation of £300,000 to cover her injuries caused by the accident.

According to her High Court writ, the school was liable for her injuries as it failed to have a restricter fitted on the window which opened to 12 inches, which is three times the legal maximum (four inches).

It also stated that the school had breached its duty of care by leaving the girl in the room while being “under the influence of alcohol.”

Who would you blame?