Hayling Teacher wins compensation from Hampshire County Council

- Wed 23rd Feb 2005

UPDATED 1 March 2005 -
Compensation for 'Whistle-Blower' Senior Teacher

Ann Power was tormented by Hayling School headteacher Max Bullough so badly that she was off sick for two years with stress.
Mrs Power, 60, has been awarded compensation estimated at £110,000 after an employment tribunal ruled in her favour.
Mrs Power's ordeal began in July 2001 while Mr Bullough was away on an 18-month secondment, leaving stand-in headteacher Rod James in charge.
She became suspicious when she was asked to sign cheques without being told what they were for.
After Mr Bullough returned to the school as headteacher and Mrs Power was appointed his deputy, she asked governors for an investigation into the school's books.
Auditors found nothing wrong in the school finances. But when Mrs Power then told Mr Bullough about the inquiry he turned on her and questioned her professional judgment and competence.
The row sparked months of intimidation for Mrs Power and turmoil at the school.
The school settled this week after an industrial tribunal ruled in Mrs Power's favour under the Employment Rights Act 1996.
The tribunal found the school had breached the law which protects 'whistleblowers' – staff who speak out about something they believe may be suspicious.
Mrs Power, of Spinnaker Close, has vowed not to return to the school and wants to work as an Ofsted inspector.



A deputy headteacher has won a compensation claim against her education authority after she was intimidated for launching an investigation into the financial records of her school.

Hampshire County Council, which runs the local education authority in charge of Hayling School, has agreed to pay an undisclosed sum to Ann Power, a spokeswoman for the authority confirmed today.


The settlement comes after the 60-year-old has been signed off sick for two years following the fall-out of her whistle-blower action at the school in Church Road, Hayling Island, Hants.

An employment tribunal in October 2003 at Southampton heard that the dispute between Mrs Power and the school began in July 2001 when headteacher Max Bullough was away on an 18-month secondment.

Mrs Power became unhappy with cheques she was asked to sign by a stand-in head and later, when she was appointed as a deputy head, she asked the school’s governors to launch an investigation into the school’s books.

It revealed nothing wrong with the school’s finances but the investigation caused Mr Bullough to fall out with Mrs Power.

The tribunal heard that the stress suffered by Mrs Power because of the way Mr Bullough treated her, including appointing a less senior teacher in charge of the school during a further absence, caused her to be signed off sick for two years.

The tribunal ruled in October 2003 that the school had breached the rights of a whistle-blower and a cash settlement has been agreed between the parties, according to a spokeswoman for Hampshire County Council.

The settlement has taken so long to be agreed as negotiations have been carried out between the parties involved since the tribunal hearing, the spokeswoman added.

Mr Bullough said today: “We are pleased this matter has finally been resolved following the ruling of the employment tribunal in October 2003. The settlement agreed is confidential.”

Mrs Power, of Hayling Island, said: “I feel relieved and am just so happy with the outcome. It has been a long time coming.”
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By forum user, HIbot