‘Principal ran school like a dictatorship’

A HEADMASTER ran his school as a “dictatorship”, a former colleague has claimed.

Philip Jones is facing an Education Workforce Council fitness to practise committee over his time as head of Heolddu Comprehensive School, Bargoed, between 2006 and 2013.

Science teacher Paula Poole was part of teachers’ union NASUWT, which launched strike action against Mr Jones, 50, in 2012.

The hearing in Cardiff was told teachers raised concerns over changes to the sickness absence policy at the school and allegations of bullying in senior management.

Mr Jones eventually took secondment in October 2012 and officially resigned in 2013.

Mrs Poole told the hearing she took on more roles at the school to assist the head of year.

But she claims headmaster Mr Jones told her it was an “Irish promotion” – meaning she would not get any increase in wages.

Mrs Poole told the panel Mr Jones would make staff work through their lunch breaks and spoke to teachers as though they were pupils.

She said: “We felt like it was a dictatorship at the school. We were basically spoken to as pupils at the school.

“A number of people at the school felt like they were being bullied to take on roles.

“I was told I was given an Irish promotion.”

The hearing was told Mr Jones would hold daily morning meetings to celebrate changes he had made to the school, often making teachers late for registration.

Jones has denied all allegations against him.

He is accused of failing to deal with allegations of bullying in the school, telling two staff members to “kiss and make up”, and describing staff as “the Taliban”.

The former head is also accused of dictating coursework to pupils.

The hearing, due to last two weeks, continues.