Teacher found hanged ‘ was bullied at work’
A TEACHER was found hanged at a quarry after claiming that she was bullied by staff at her secondary school, an inquest heard yesterday.
Caroline Bailey, 46, felt under so much pressure she suffered panic attacks, insomnia and refused to go into the staffroom – locking herself in her classroom at lunch.
When a colleague was promoted above her the mother of two, a religious studies teacher, called herself “stupid” and told her husband: “I have nothing.”
An inquest was told that just days before the start of a new school year Mrs Bailey was found hanged with a dressing gown cord at Castle Hill Quarry, near Rochdale, Greater Manchester.
She had previously been appointed head of humanities at Broad Oak High School, in Bury.
But the Oldham hearing was told she had self- harmed over undisclosed incidents with a fellow teacher, had treatment for stress and prescribed antidepressants.
Husband Neal Connor, 36, said: “She had been suffering from panic attacks at work. She had the same sort of feeling when in the presence of a couple of other members of staff.
“She had problems with staff at work and, in my opinion, it was a form of strategic bullying.”
In September 2012 Mrs Bailey was urged by her GP to seek counselling.
But despite going on sick leave she self- harmed during the summer holidays, including getting out of bed in the middle of the night to cut her wrists. Doctors suggested she be treated in a psychiatric unit and she
was was later given weekend leave from the unit to go home.
Mrs Bailey appeared to improve but her condition worsened when she received text messages about work.
Mr Connor said: “There had been a lot of interaction with colleagues who had been texting her. There was talk of commencement of the school year. She felt she was letting kids down.”
Mrs Bailey returned to the hospital but was allowed out to go to a newsagent.
When she failed to return her husband tried to call her mobile but got no response. She was discovered dead a short time later.
The inquest continues.