Schools Hit Parents For Insurance

Sun Herald

Sunday December 7, 2008

By ANNA PATTY EDUCATION EDITOR

INDEPENDENT schools in Sydney are asking parents to pay for extra accident insurance for their children, and one is asking parents to sign a form to indemnify the school against legal claims.

Terry Meller, whose daughter attended St Catherine's School in Waverley last year, said he was surprised that a $25 charge for personal accident insurance was included in his fee statement.

"It is something that has crept into the private school system. It seems to be double-dipping," he said. "With a recession looming it is another little bite they try to take out of you. I don't know how they justify it."

St Catherine's headmistress Lynne Stone said the insurance cover was not mandatory but an additional policy that offered set payments for specific injuries, such as losing an eye.

"It's an entirely optional payment," Ms Stone said.

Association of Independent Schools NSW executive director Geoff Newcombe said it was common for schools to offer additional accident insurance.

"Many schools give parents the option of extra cover," Dr Newcombe said. "It's mixed practice.

"If a student gets their teeth knocked out on a Saturday morning, that wouldn't be covered under the school's insurance policy."

Reddam House in Bondi asks parents to sign a student registration form that completely indemnifies the school. In signing, the parent agrees to "unconditionally indemnify Reddam House employees against any claim" by the student for any loss or injury, whether on the school premises or otherwise.

"That is not a common practice," Dr Newcombe said. "We would advise schools that those sort of indemnities don't have much substance to them. It is not a practice that the AIS would recommend."

Schools were advised to thoroughly assess the risk involved in taking students on excursions. For example, the swimming ability of students should be checked before they visit the beach.

Reddam House managing director Graeme Crawford said while the school wanted to indemnify itself as well as it could, the registration form would not override the law.

"It is a general agreement between the school and the parent," he said. "The school's duty of care is paramount."

© 2008 Sun Herald

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