Headteacher Forced into Wheelchair After Violent School Assault
A former headteacher has been left requiring a wheelchair and suffering chronic pain after a pupil with Special Educational Needs violently attacked her with a wheeled desk chair at a specialist school. Michelle Stone, aged 50, was struck from behind during the incident, which occurred in May 2019 at a school in Lyndhurst, Hampshire.
Severe Injuries and Career-Ending Trauma
The assault resulted in devastating physical injuries including spinal damage, multiple broken ribs, and a fractured collarbone. Mrs Stone, who had served as headteacher at the institution for seven years, was forced to abandon her beloved career in education due to the severity of her condition.
"There hasn't been a day that I haven't been in pain," Mrs Stone revealed. "I have had numerous surgeries. People ask 'when will you be recovered?' Unfortunately it is not recovery, it is degenerative."
The psychological impact has been equally profound, with the former educator experiencing ongoing trauma, anxiety, and disrupted sleep patterns that prevent her return to any educational setting.
Repeated Warnings Ignored Before Attack
In the months preceding the violent incident, Mrs Stone had repeatedly raised urgent concerns with senior leadership about the school's inability to safely manage the particular pupil's extreme behaviour. The same student had already seriously injured two other staff members prior to the May 2019 attack.
"I was worried not only for my staff, but for the safety of the said pupil and the other children in the school," Mrs Stone explained. "I felt that the most appropriate solution would have been to transfer the pupil to another more specialised facility, but my concerns were ignored."
Managing the pupil's behaviour reportedly required four or five adults simultaneously, yet no additional support or safety measures were implemented despite multiple warnings from late 2018 onwards.
Six-Figure Settlement After Legal Battle
Following the life-altering assault, Mrs Stone instructed workplace assault specialist Joanne Soccard of Thompsons Solicitors through her membership with the school leaders' union NAHT. Her legal team successfully argued that the school had failed to act on known risks and ignored repeated internal warnings about dangerous conditions.
Although the educational institution denied liability, it agreed to a substantial six-figure settlement shortly before trial. The compensation reflects the devastating impact on Mrs Stone's health, wellbeing, and career, while also providing funding for ongoing treatment and rehabilitation.
Calls for Improved School Safety Measures
Joanne Soccard, Associate Solicitor specialising in workplace assaults at Thompsons, emphasised the broader implications of this case: "Schools must act on known risks and take responsibility before serious harm occurs, not after. Where safeguarding measures are insufficient, it can have serious implications for the staff, and for the pupils themselves."
Mrs Stone, who resides in Bournemouth, Dorset, expressed her hope that her experience would prevent similar incidents: "I loved my job and worked hard to support my students and staff. But I was placed in an impossible situation - one that was preventable. I want to make sure no one else goes through this."
Parental Responsibility and Systemic Failures
The former headteacher also highlighted issues with parental engagement, noting that while some parents work diligently with schools, others fail to adequately partner with educational institutions. "Some parents don't step up to the partnership with schools and they need to step up and be partners," she stated.
A Department for Education spokesperson addressed the broader context of school violence, stating: "Violence affecting teachers is completely unacceptable and schools should never be left to deal with it alone. That's why we are taking action through 93 Attendance and Behaviour Hubs to share their expertise and tackle the root causes before problems escalate."
Mrs Stone's case underscores critical questions about safety protocols in special educational settings, staff protection measures, and institutional responsibility when managing pupils with complex behavioural needs.
