NUT WINS Ł300,000 SETTLEMENT FOR STRESS CASE TEACHER

Thursday 11 May 2000

The National Union of Teachers has won a Ł300,000 settlement for a member forced to retire early as a result of a stress induced illness.

The 45 year old father of two is not being named by the Union as he is too ill to cope with media interest. However he wants details of his case publicised in an effort to prevent other teachers suffering as he has and to ensure their employers take seriously their duty to ensure that teachers working environment is free of unnecessary stress. (The teacher concerned will be called Mr A throughout this press release)

On behalf of the teacher, a payment into court by the insurers of the governors of the school* and the Shropshire County Council Mr A's employers has been accepted by the NUT

Currently Mr A receives counselling weekly and has been on medication for three years. He feels fearful and haunted and is constantly looking over his shoulder. He has not slept properly for two years and cannot cope with strangers. He rarely leaves home despite having previously been active in sports.

Mr A specialised throughout his career working with children who were emotionally and behavioural disturbed. If the children are not organised properly as a teacher you are at risk says Mr A.

In January 1995 a new Headteacher was appointed at his school and the problems began. Previously the school had run on team lines but, said Mr A the new Head would not listen to suggestions from experienced staff. She promoted `divide and rule`, failed to demonstrate consistency in disciplinary policies , ignored the concerns of staff and rejected criticism from experienced teachers and suggested instead that they look for new jobs.

In four months after the new Head arrives Mr A began suffering stress related symptoms. He felt physically exhausted, short tempered, and lost weight. He began to suffer from insomnia and was reluctant to leave his home. He became obsessive about work and could think and talk about nothing else. He lost interest in he own children. He lost concern for his appearance. He says the Headteacher drew pupil's attention to his deteriorating appearance. Previously a non-smoker Mr A became a chain smoker.

"As time went on, I often did not know whether I had just arrived at work or was about to go home. I was completely disorientated" said Mr A.

After the arrival of the new Head, joint staff meetings were ended. Teaching staff and ancillary staff met separately. The new Head reprimanded ancillary staff in front of pupils. Mr A believes pupils quickly lost respect for her and began to manipulate her. Both with pupils and staff, he felt the Head created an atmosphere of "them and us".

Despite the opposition of Mr A and other Teaching staff, a pennies for points scheme aimed at promoting good behaviour was introduced. "I was against it morally, philosophically and professionally" said Mr A. The policy failed after a term and a half. Mr A believes pupils were unimpressed with the attempt to buy them.

Communication between the Head and staff broke down over the plan. When the Head demanded to see Mr A she shouted at him and told him he was unprofessional.

The Head imposed a new disciplinary policy on the school, which Mr A believed was inconsistent and incoherent. For example baseball hats were banned with the penalty for infringement being suspension. Children caught eating sweets or chewing gum were also suspended. This left no sanction for dealing with serious offences. "There was no scale of sanctions that made any sense to me" said Mr A.

The hat ban was lifted by the Head but she failed to inform the staff and Mr A says he found out about the change from the pupils. When Mr A asked the Head about the change he says he was told that he was questioning her authority.

I found the way the school was managed day-to-day, the lack of structure to maintain discipline and enable good teaching practice very stressful. Ill health became rife with numerous absences as a result of the bad working conditions.

He believed the Head could not maintain discipline. Mr A describes how the pupils would laugh and swear at her. "Professionally, I was always stepping in between her and the children because she was at risk."

"I repeatedly warned the Headteacher that the school environment was too stressful because of the increasingly violent atmosphere, an atmosphere which had got out of control as a result of the Headteacher's management style".

By the end of the summer term, just six months into a new Headship, Mr A sense of well being had become so low he went to see the responsible officer in Shropshire County Council. I said I thought things were so bad that the school was a disaster, staff were demoralised and stressed and the children were very much out of control. I believed staff were being bullied by the Head and told to look for alternative employment if they did not like any decision she made.

I said I was at breaking point. I was in such a terrible state that I began to cry. I asked whether I ought to obtain counselling. He was told that was not necessary and that the authority was aware of the problems and would get back to him. "Because it was the beginning of the summer holidays, I did not take sick leave as I could rest."

"But I heard nothing from the authority after that meeting, despite calling several times during the autumn term. All staff went to see the same officer, some more than once, but it became apparent that no one in authority was prepared to listen or take seriously our concerns."

Discipline among pupils had worsened by early 1996 and Mr A was involved in breaking up two physical attacks by pupils on each other.

By February discipline at the school had deteriorated further and Mr A was pushed down the stairs by a pupil. He was not physically injured but the strain of the year resulted in him becoming irrational and suffering from delusions. "I was unable to distinguish my dreams, which were solely about work, from reality."

Four days after the incident his symptoms were so severe and distressing to his family that a doctor was called out. He was diagnosed as having suffered a complete nervous breakdown and has been unable to work since.

The Headteacher has now left the school.

Doug McAvoy NUT General Secretary said:
"This is an appalling case of lack of care and concern for the Health and wellbeing of a teacher shown by both the school governors and Shropshire County Council. This teacher has suffered dreadful stress which could have been dealt with if the Authority had intervened as soon as it was aware of the problems."

"Instead a committed caring teach is now too ill to continue his chosen career."

"His employers failed to protect him and he continues to suffer."

"For too many teachers round the Country this lack of care is an increasing part of their daily lives. The NUT will step in to protect its members wherever possible and we will fight for compensation if employers refuse to take appropriate steps to protect their teachers."

* In order to protect the teacher's identity, the school is not being named.

END PR34/00

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