ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Primary school accident reporting in one education authority

A H A Latif¹, W R Williams², J Sibert³

¹ Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Ynysmaerdy, Llantrisant CF72 8XR, UK
² School of Care Sciences, University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd CF37 1DL, UK
³ Llandough Hospital, Penlan Road, Penarth CF6 4XX, UK

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr W R Williams, School of Care Sciences, University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd CF37 1DL, UK;
wrwillia{at}glam.ac.uk

Background: Studies have shown a correlation between increased accident rates and levels of deprivation in the community. School accident reporting is one area where an association might be expected.

Aims: To investigate differences in primary school accident rates in deprived and more affluent wards, in an area managed by one education authority.

Methods: Statistical analysis of accident form returns for 100 primary schools in one education authority in Wales over a two year period, in conjunction with visits to over one third of school sites.

Results: Accident report rates from schools in deprived wards were three times higher than those from schools in more affluent wards. School visits showed that this discrepancy was attributable primarily to differences in reporting procedures. One third of schools did not report accidents and approximately half did not keep records of minor accidents.

Conclusions: The association between school accident report rates and deprivation in the community is complex. School accident data from local education authorities may be unreliable for most purposes of collection.

Keywords: school accident; accident reporting; primary school; deprivation

Abbreviations: A&E, accident and emergency department; LEA, local education authority; RIDDOR, Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations

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