Education authority is sued by dyslexic

A man who claims his life was ruined when teachers failed to diagnose his dyslexia is suing his local authority for half a million pounds. David Smith, 27, says that he has been unable to pursue a hoped-for career in the music industry because his problem was never recognised.

He was forced to leave school at 16 with no qualifications and the literacy level of an eight-year-old.

Classmates thought he was an "idiot" when he was made to stand in front of them trying to read out text he could not decipher.

"Obviously, I had a very bad time on the reading and writing front," he said.

Mr Smith, who attended junior and secondary schools in Romford, Essex, has launched a High Court battle for £500,000 compensation against Havering borough council.

Now a self-employed carpet fitter, he claims teachers and educational psychologists at both Wykeham Junior School and Albany Secondary School failed in their responsibility to diagnose his dyslexia between 1987 and 1992.

It was only after he left school in 1993 that he finally realised he had the learningdisability. By that time, his lawyers claim, it was too late to pursue a hopedfor job as a recording engineer for the music industry.

His mother, Lesley, said that her son was demoralised and depressed after leaving school.

"It was quite a job to get him out of the house," she told the court.

"He would just lie in bed most of the day."

Experts estimate that Mr Smith, who is of average intelligence, would have gone on to achieve average GCSE grades if he had received the appropriate help.

Havering council denies all liability, insisting teachers did their utmost to deal with Mr Smith's "intractable" learning difficulties.

The solicitor acting for the council, Andrew Warnock, dismissed the claim for £500,000 damages as "fantastic" and "highly speculative".

He said teachers had acted in a " competent" manner in dealing with Mr Smith's learning difficulties, whatever "label" was attached to them.

The hearing continues.