WorkSafe still has concerns about school

WorkSafe will not ‘‘proceed with any form of prosecution’’ against Christchurch Boys’ High School, but the regulator was ‘‘seriously concerned’’ and ‘‘further compliance measures may follow’’.

An investigation was launched following ‘‘allegations of a mentally unsafe workplace’’.

WorkSafe did not uncover sufficient evidence to file charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. However, Catherine Gardner, WorkSafe’s head of specialist interventions, said it remained ‘‘seriously concerned about the school’’.

‘‘The file will be handed back to WorkSafe’s kaimahi hauora (mentally healthy work) team to engage with the school,’’ she said.

‘‘This team consists of specialist inspectors which specifically focus on mental health at work. Their role is to look at systems, policies and procedures when a worker has experienced mental harm on the job.’’

A former teacher told The Press in 2021 that she suffered a mental breakdown after being accused of sending the letters. She resigned in December 2019 and took a personal grievance.

Christchurch Boys’ High School (CBHS) headmaster Nic Hill previously told The Press the allegations had been made by ‘‘a very small group of former staff’’.

‘‘Earlier this month I brought to your attention an investigation by WorkSafe into our school in relation to complaints made by a small group of former employees,’’ he said yesterday, in a statement to the school’s community.

‘‘The board of trustees at CBHS has now received the results of the WorkSafe investigation and welcomes WorkSafe’s decision not to proceed with any form of prosecution. The allegations the former staff members have made were historic and not accepted by the board.’’

The school would ‘‘continue to look for where improvements can be made’’ to its health, safety and wellbeing (HSW) policies and procedures, he said.