Claims of a bullying culture among staff at an Angus secondary school have been met with a wall of silence.
Monifieth High is at the centre of allegations that the school’s English department is in crisis, with senior management and Angus Council being accused of a lack of support despite concerns being raised on numerous occasions over an extended period.
The council has declined to make any comment on the matter but a source has told The Courier that council officials are investigating complaints from staff at the school made in relation to the conduct of colleagues.
It has been claimed ”a campaign of bullying and harassment” has existed within the department over a period of years.
The confidential source also suggested that pupils are being affected by teacher absenteeism rates at a school that received a glowing report from education inspectors when they last visited five years ago.
”Despite the issues being raised on numerous occasions and being common knowledge with management, staff within the English department have had to endure a long period of serious harassment and bullying,” alleged the insider.
They have claimed the conduct includes ”verbal harassment, whispering campaigns and, most seriously, threats of violence.”
It has been alleged the conduct breaches the General Teaching Council code of conduct but The Courier understands the regulatory body has not yet become involved in any investigation or report of possible problems at the establishment.
The source added: ”Teachers are upset at the lack of support from the management of the school and weak leadership, which has resulted in many periods of absence due to stress.
”Importantly the department is failing many of its pupils with a high level of absence within the English department and staff members find the conditions very difficult.”
Angus Council declined to respond to the allegations, stating simply that it ”does not comment on personnel matters.”
It would not confirm or deny if any complaints had been received from staff or if an investigation was taking place.
The authority was also unable to meet a request for attainment figures at Standard Grade and Higher level in English and maths at the school over the past five years.
It said data were not readily available and is now working to compile the information.
A request for absenteeism figures at the school was also declined.
The General Teaching Council Scotland said issues such as those alleged by the Monifieth source would be dealt with by employers in the first instance.
”GTCS would not be able to investigate general concerns about the running of schools. We can consider complaints against individual registered teachers. However, we would not discuss these publicly,” said a spokesman.
Monifieth’s English department was praised by inspectors in 2007 for attainment levels described as well above the national average from S3 to S6. Teachers in the department were said to used ”well-planned approaches” to developing pupils’ learning skills and the overall quality of teaching was categorised as ”very good.”
HMiE inspectors then published a 2009 follow-through inspection report stating: ”The school’s performance in external examinations continues to exceed national averages and generally compares well with the performance of schools with similar characteristics.
”While in 2008 there had been improvements in performance at Standard Grade, the school’s performance at Higher had declined in relation to its performance over the previous four years.”
It concluded by saying the school and the education authority had taken ”positive steps” towards meeting the main points for action raised in the earlier inspection.
”Thoughtful and focused leadership” was highlighted in the follow-through report, which also praised a ”committed staff.”