YES - Martin Ward, deputy general secretary, Association of School andCollege Leaders
The association has campaigned for several years for anonymity for allschool and college staff facing allegations. Of course children must beprotected and accusations taken seriously, but this doesn't mean schoolstaff cannot be protected as well. Unfounded allegations can wreckcareers and lives. There can be strong external pressure on the schoolto suspend, and police and local authority investigations can be veryslow and stressful.NO - Laura Berman, education lawyer, Teacher Stern Selby
If you were not allowed to put the teacher's name, you would effectivelyhave a meaningless claim. It would be quite hard to conduct courtproceedings in the way we are used to without any names. You have topinpoint where the negligence has happened and what's gone wrong. Theonus is on the pupil bringing the claim to be very specific. Legally,you would have to specify at least to a certain degree and say whichclass and year group it was, which would make the teacher identifiableanyway.
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