More than a quarter of school staff throughout the UK (28 per cent) have been the victims of a false accusation by a pupil, according to a survey carried out by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers. Additionally, one in six (17 per cent) have had a false claim made against them by a member of a pupil’s family. In half the cases, the allegation was immediately dismissed by the school. Mary Bousted, ATL general secretary, said careers were being “blighted” and added: “It’s time the balance was redressed so that school staff are not presumed guilty until proven innocent”.