Public liability for schools
Public liability insurance for schools
Public liability is an essential insurance cover for any educational institution whose activities bring it into contact with members of the public.
It provides cover for the cost of third-party accidental injury or property damage claims brought by members of the public in relation to incidents connected to an educational institution’s activities.
What does Zurich public liability insurance for schools cover?
It’s likely your school welcomes a wide variety of visitors every term – from pupils, parents and other guests, to contractors and delivery drivers.
Our public liability insurance is designed to protect schools against the costs associated with third-party claims relating to accidental injury, death or property damage. This includes compensation costs and legal expenses.
Employers’ liability for schools
Public liability insurance protects schools against the cost of accidental injury or damage to third-parties and their property. But what about those employed by the school?
If staff are injured on-site or when participating in school activities, the school could be held liable.
Employers’ liability insurance protects schools against the costs associated with illness or injury to teachers, caretakers, canteen staff and any other employees.
This provides peace of mind if accidents occur in the classroom, playground or off-site on school trips.
Public liability insurance for schools – frequently asked questions
Why should schools have public liability insurance?
Accidents can happen in any corner of a school – as well as in the surrounding area or during school trips.
Public liability insurance protects schools against the costs associated with any claims made against them by visitors or others affected by actions made by staff or students.
This could include risks such as:
- Damage to third-party property as a result of building work, repairs or maintenance
- Accidental injury to visitors, e.g. slips/trips during a school inspection or parents’ evening
- Legal costs associated with defending claims such as those above
Do schools have to have public liability insurance?
It is not a legal requirement for schools to have public liability insurance, but it is strongly recommended. This is because policies provide financial cover for schools against a wide range of risks facing visitors on the school premises, as well as other third-parties who could be affected by school activities.
How long do you have to make a public liability claim?
If you need to make a claim on your Zurich Municipal public liability insurance, you should let us know as soon as possible.
You can visit our ‘Make a public sector insurance claim’ page to find out more. There’s also lots more information about the liability claims process in our claims guidance document.
Does public liability cover buildings?
Public liability insurance covers damage to buildings owned by third-parties, caused by school activities. For example, if a loose cricket ball escapes the school grounds and damages a nearby residential window, the school would be covered against the cost of repairs.
Accidental damage to school buildings themselves would not be covered under public liability insurance, but would be covered under a material damage policy. Works-in-progress cover may be necessary for buildings undergoing repair, renovation or major rebuilding work
Is employers’ liability for schools the same as teachers’ insurance?
Teachers’ insurance usually refers to a separate type of insurance policy designed to provide protection for private tutors and other self-employed teachers (rather than those employed directly by a school, academy, academy trust or local authority). Zurich Municipal does not offer this kind of insurance.