Maya* was excited to start her new teaching job, but she never expected to be called racist and sexist names by her colleagues. She faced relentless bullying, with racist slurs like the n-word and being called a “curry lover”. Sexist comments like being told she needed to “bend over a desk to get a promotion” and having “blowjob lips” were thrown at her almost every day. These hurtful incidents led Maya to feel worthless and eventually forced her to leave her job. She was made to sign a Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and received a payout in exchange for her silence.
Sky News has uncovered more than 320 cases of current and former teachers in the UK who have faced bullying at work. Shockingly, 119 of them signed NDAs and received payouts totaling over £1.73m. The National Education Union (NEU) has condemned the use of NDAs to cover up bullying, stating that it prevents proper investigation and misuse of public money.
Tracy*, a teacher of 25 years, also experienced severe bullying when her school transitioned to an academy. She was targeted and bullied by the new management for questioning their decisions. Tracy’s mental health suffered as a result, and she was even suicidal at one point. The academisation of schools has been highlighted as a catalyst for bullying by many teachers.
In over 200 written testimonies, teachers shared the humiliation, belittlement, and ridicule they faced. Many teachers contemplated suicide as a way to escape the toxic work environment. The power imbalance between teachers and school management has been exacerbated by the rise of multi-academy trusts, creating a corporate-like system without professional respect for teachers.
The NEU stresses the need for a change in attitudes from senior leaders and managers in schools. They attribute this toxic culture to the pressure schools face from Ofsted. However, Ofsted declined to comment on these findings. Education minister Catherine McKinnell emphasized the importance of creating a safe and supportive work environment for all school staff.
Maya has called for the abolishment of NDAs in schools to allow teachers to speak out without fear of legal repercussions. The government has introduced the Education Staff Wellbeing Charter to promote staff wellbeing in schools. The process of fixing this culture of bullying is complex, but it starts with changing attitudes and providing support to teachers in need.
If you are a teacher who has experienced similar bullying at work, you can share your story with Sky News by emailing Sky.Today@sky.uk. Remember, if you are feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal, you can reach out to organizations like Samaritans for help and support.
