Teacher’s death: no probe into concerns over stress
‘I am not allowed to wander beyond my remit,’ says coroner
The family of a head teacher found hanged at home have met a coroner to discuss their concerns about the pressure of his job.
But while a full inquest into the death of Mark Geadah will be held next year, coroner Patricia Harding says she will not be able to investigate his relatives’ worries.
The 43-year-old led Allington and Aylesford primary schools and his death, on August 24, sparked a huge outpouring of grief, with flowers laid at both schools’ grounds.
Mrs Harding held a pre-inquest review on Thursday last week. She explained this wasn’t her planned course of action but that she met at the family’s request.
Mr Geadah’s wife, Lesley, and parents Monir and Jill all raised the issue of whether the stress he felt at work contributed to his death, but at the review Mrs Harding said she could not look into that.
Speaking at the Archbishops’ Palace, in Mill Street, she said: “I am sure that’s not the response you want to hear, but my legal remit is limited. I am not allowed in law to wander beyond my remit.
“I understand that you have concerns and there may be other avenues that can be pursued.
“I know there has been considerable interest in this case and it may well be there are people who may be interested in speaking with you.”
She did assure the family that she would try to hold the hearing within six months. It is expected to also discuss medication that Mr Geadah was taking.
At the beginning of September an earlier hearing found the teacher was suffering depression because of stress at work.
He was found in a summer house at the bottom of his garden in Beech Drive and he had been receiving treatment for depression.
During Mr Geadah’s time at Allington, he oversaw two Ofsted inspections, resulting in outstanding ratings.
His success was noticed and he became executive head at Aylesford Primary School, in Teapot Lane, earlier this year while continuing as head of Allington. Both institutions are academies.