The woman, a teacher at a Midlands special school, was assaulted by the 13-year-old girl three years ago. The girl pulled the teacher’s hair, twisted her back and dragged her to the floor. The pay-out to the teacher, who was forced into early retirement after the attack, was made by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

Doug McAvoy, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, who supported the woman, said: “Employers must take seriously their responsibility to protect teachers from assaults. Staff need to be well-informed of any back-up assistance that can be called in an emergency and trained to support their colleagues.”