The governors of a school in Kent have been prosecuted after a pupil was severely injured when he was hit by a shot put during a routine multi-sport PE lesson in June 2014.

Having completed his activity at the triple jump area, the pupil moved to the nearby shot put zone to see how far a friend had thrown. Unaware that people were still competing, he was struck on the back of his head by a shot put. He suffered life-threatening injuries and was in hospital for nearly a month.

The HSE found the school had carried out a risk assessment for PE lessons. However, although it had referenced the guidance by the Association for Physical Education, it did not follow their recommendation that such lessons be restricted to a maximum of four sports with only one to be a throwing event.

The school’s inclusion of six sports with three throwing events had significantly increased the risks to pupils, as had the proximity of the triple jump pit to the shot put landing zone.

What should you do?

It is vitally important that schools carry out suitable and sufficient risk assessments for all PE lessons and multi-sport activities. Your school must ensure that they fully adopt the control measures identified in their risk assessment. Review risk assessments periodically, to check that they are and remain safe. Risk assessments MUST comply with AfPE and or other related governing body guidance.

Judicium Education can provide you with templates such as the Multi-sport Risk Assessment needed to comply with these requirements, please contact us if you would like further information.