Bullying head made me ill - claim; TEACHER TELLS TRIBUNAL WHY SHE RESIGNED.A FORMER teacher at a Rugby school Rugby School, located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, is one of the oldest public schools in England and is one of the major co-educational boarding schools in the country. told an industrial tribunal industrial tribunal n → magistratura de trabajo, tribunal m laboral industrial tribunal n (Brit) → conseil m de prud'hommes how the bullying headmaster forced her to leave. Kristin Watkin, aged 54, a former head of modern languages at Ashlawn School Ashlawn School is a secondary school on Ashlawn Road, Rugby, Warwickshire, England. The current headteacher is Peter Rossborough, a former England Rugby Union international. Around 1,400 pupils attend the school educated by 80 full time teaching staff. , is claiming unfair and constructive dismissal In employment law, constructive dismissal, also called constructive discharge, is where an employee resigns because of their employer's behaviour. The employee must prove that the behaviour was unfair — that the employer's actions amounted to a fundamental breach of against Warwickshire LEA and the school governors. Since resigning in December 1998, Mrs Watkin says she has been unable to find permanent employment as a head of department due to the "psychological damage" she sustained during a bullying campaign by Peter Rossborough, a former Coventry and England rugby star. Mr Rossborough - who won seven caps for England - is the present Coventry coaching co-ordinator. In written evidence given to the tribunal in Birmingham, Mrs Watkin, of Beechwood Avenue, Earlsdon, Coventry Earlsdon is a suburb of Coventry, England. It is the birth place of aviation pioneer Frank Whittle. History In the mid-1800s Earlsdon was a hub of activity for the rising watch-making trade. , said that as a result of Mr Rossborough's controlling management style, she became ill with irritable bowel syndrome irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), condition characterized by frequently alternating constipation and diarrhea in the absence of any disease process. It is usually accompanied by abdominal pain, especially in the lower left quadrant, bloating, and flatulence. , insomnia insomnia, abnormal wakefulness or inability to sleep. The condition may result from illness or physical discomfort, or it may be caused by stimulants such as coffee or drugs. However, frequently some psychological factor, such as worry or tension, is the cause. , weight loss and depression and was often reduced to tears. She said she was prescribed medication for her symptoms and her GP arranged for her to have counselling. Mrs Watkin claims that despite an upward trend in results in her department since she took over the position in 1993 "nothing was good enough" for Mr Rossborough and her work load escalated. She often went to bed between 2am and 3am and said: "I remember saying to him 'do you want me to kill myself Peter - is that what you want'." She described the school as having a "culture of bullying emanating from this head teacher." In explaining her decision to resign she said: "I could only survive for so long in this negative and destructive culture. "Indeed Mr Rossborough's behaviour towards me and his manner of dealing with me was oppressive and showed me that he did not intend to be bound by the normal employer/employee relationship." In a statement to the press, a spokesman for Warwickshire County Council education department said: "Peter Rossborough has been head at Ashlawn for 13 years. He is a high performing and highly respected head teacher and the LEA considers the success of the school is due to his excellent leadership." The hearing is continuing. lEarlier this year former Ashlawn School secretary Rosemary Powell claimed constructive dismissal against the county council and told a tribunal how she was bullied by Mr Rossborough, deputy head Julia Morris Julia Morris was born in 1968 and is an Australian writer, comedian, television presenter and television producer who has worked extensively in Australian and British television. , office manager Shirley Hill and office supervisor Debbie Morton. That hearing was adjourned. |
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