Twelve Year 9 students were hurt, four seriously, during the fall in Minster College sports hall on 12 May. Parents of 10 of the students have begun or are considering legal action. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said on Tuesday that the duct fell because the wires attaching it to the roof of the hall failed. About 150 children were inside at the time. Rhys Sullivan, who suffered the worst injuries, had surgery to fit metal plates after breaking his jaw in two places. He also broke seven teeth and needed stitches in his chin and lip.
His mother Vicki said he was "bearing up quite well" but had not yet returned to school.
"I just want answers more than anything else," she said.
"We sent our kids to school to be safe and obviously it's not been safe."
Tim Bancroft, a personal injury lawyer dealing with the case, said: "The impression I get is they are not looking to victimise any particular individual at Minster College. They just see it as getting something that is fair to their son or daughter."
Head teacher Alan Klee said he was not surprised parents were getting lawyers involved.
"Nobody should be in this position, no child should be injured in the way that they were injured. Schools are the safest place in our communities, yet on that day 12 children came to school and yet we had to return them back injured to their homes. That's not acceptable."
