A High Court judge has dismissed a headteacher's appeal against a ban on training against bullying in a case which one union said was a sign of a “failure” by the misconduct regulator.
Mahzia 'Pepe' Hart, former headteacher of Trinity Church School in Radstock, Somerset, has appealed against an injunction banning her from practicing the profession for at least two years.
Last year, NAHT union general secretary Paul Whiteman said he had “significant concerns” about the incident, adding: “Every week the TRA gives us cause for concern.” [Teaching Regulation Agency] “It’s a failed regulator.”
But Mr Justice Eyre dismissed Hart's appeal in a ruling published on Friday following a two-day hearing at the High Court in London last November.
He said: “When you are in a position of leadership and power. [Hart] Found to be bullying pregnant teachers (at least somewhat vulnerable). Made inappropriate comments to or about employees and made fun of them. And it threatens employees.
“She was found to have done this repeatedly over a three-year period.”
The independent TRA panel found Hart guilty in November 2022 of 'bullying, threatening, ridiculing, mimicking and making inappropriate comments to staff over a number of years' as part of an 'incompatible pattern of behavior as a teacher'. It was ruled.
Hart won several national awards but resigned in 2015 due to dissatisfaction with “staff numbers.”
But after five weeks of TRA hearings, 25 specific allegations against her were found to be “unproven”. Eleven others were withdrawn by regulators before sentencing.
Hart 'disappointed' by High Court appeal outcome
Her grounds for appeal to the High Court relate to the procedural fairness of the case, the panel's approach to assessing the evidence and whether the sanctions were “necessary and proportionate”.
But Eyre said Hart's “submissions as to the nature and severity of her actions significantly underestimate the seriousness of her actions.”
The TRA panel found Hart “failed to demonstrate any expression of remorse or insight”. Eyre found that “the risk of recurrence deserves to be considered a very strong factor.”
“The panel’s approach to its fact-finding exercise has been very cautious and disciplined,” he said.
Hart said he was “disappointed” with the result and “can't regret anything I didn't do.”
She said of
As well as the TRA case, Hart is suing the National Education Union (NEU) and its local general secretary David Biddleston. She accused him of inciting union members to complain about her, motivated in part by anti-academic sentiment.
Biddleston “denies the conspiracy charge” and claims he was “acting in his capacity” as an NEU officer.
Eyre added that these proceedings are “ongoing,” but that “a hearing does not appear imminent.”
Hart said school week Her ongoing legal battle is “taking a toll on my mental health every day.”
Whiteman said this week that NAHT “does not comment on the details of individual cases” but said it “remains concerned about matters relating to TRA”. “We are using every means possible to improve.”
The regulator was renamed TRA after the high-profile and controversial case of teachers allegedly involved in the Trojan horse scandal collapsed.
The huge backlog of cases since Covid-19 means it now takes an average of more than two years to resolve the problem.