A MERSEYSIDE head teacher is set to deny being responsible for a pupil falling through his school’s roof.
Joel Murray, then 18, fractured his skull, broke his ribs, perforated an eardrum and suffered permanent damage to his eye when he fell two and a half metres through a roof light on A-level results day at Sacred Heart Catholic College, in Crosby.
Yesterday, his former head teacher, John Summerfield, appeared at South Sefton Magistrates Court, in Bootle, to face a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecution.
The HSE alleges the incident on August 14, 2008, happened after he took a group of teenagers onto the school roof.
Mr Summerfield, 63, was told he was charged under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 because he allegedly failed to take reasonable care for the safety of Mr Murray and other students “by allowing them access onto the roof and a fragile roof light”.
Mr Summerfield’s legal representative, Patrick Cassidy, said his client intended to plead not guilty. The court granted Mr Summerfield’s wish to have his case tried by a jury at Crown Court and adjourned the case until April 29 for committal.
Mr Summerfield, of Moorland Avenue, Crosby, confirmed his name, address and age.
He was granted unconditional bail.
The 1,469 pupil school was rated outstanding after an Ofsted inspection last year, with officials praising Mr Summerfield’s “inspired leadership”.
