Workplace bullying

Many years ago I worked for a head who I can honestly say was the most wicked peson I ever knew! She liked people by how rich they were or what they could do with her. Early on in the time I worked with her she told a whopper of a lie about a parent and I knew the whole story. After than I never trusted her and I know that she would have loved me to leave the school but I did not and I saw her retire there. After she had gone we had an acting head for a while - and she discovered that the Head had been cooking the books of the Scoll fund!

Golly if they are like that to their work colleagues what on earth are they like to the pupils who are much less able to cope with bullying?

Yes, a colleague of mine was bullied out by a new manager, who for some unknown reason decided to make her life a misery. The details are very unpleasant and I won't repeat them here. My colleague resigned rather than continue to be put under what was intolerable stress at the same time as working in a demanding professional post.

I worked in a secondary school where the HT was a known bully. If summonsed to his presence, we all took a colleague with us. Failing that, we made sure the door to his office remained open. Eventually I dug an escape tunnel. My son is now a student teacher and being bullied by his mentor. There is a lot of it about unfortunately.
Soutra, I hope your friend took advice from his union and got a good settlement from the school. This sounds like constructive dismal to me.

We could be talking about the same place Anya! (we're not, but identical scenario)

Yes, I know someone who has experienced exactly the same thing, again a secomdary teacher. He too was a kind, caring man whose pupils achieved well and loved his subject. The same bullying scenario from someone at the top. Bullying is endemic in the school he taught at. So another good solid teacher lost to the profession. After he left, others were subjected to the same tactics,

Again this was an Academy.

I don't have any experience like that. The poor man. This must have an effect on morale across the whole school. I did once feel bullied by a senior manager trying to make me take part in a research study that I knew was fundamentally flawed. It was such a difficult conversation that I actually came home and had a drink (never happened before). I did stick to my guns though and she did try to make life difficult for me but -2 can play the same game! It was a waste of energy though that would have been better put into patient care.