Hackney head teacher wins £100,000 after being sacked for tapping son’s hand

4 comments

1. Good result, and a ridiculous case. Insane overreach by both the original complainant and the trust.

   And there’s no excuse, it’s worth noting the Police Officers immediate take:

   > The police indicated that they did not feel that this incident, as reported by
   Ms Bhagwandas would even meet the threshold for a criminal investigation

   (Though they did go on to investigate, no doubt under pressure from the school to do so)

   They knew from the get go it was bullshit. It gets even more enraging, several days after being told explicitly by the Police that no crime had been committed they convened an investigation under the following heading:

   > Mr Pratt’s brief was to investigate the following allegation: That on 17th
   January 2022, Ms. Malabver-Goulbourne assaulted a pupil/child whilst in a
   position of trust and on school premises.

   So the Police investigate, conclude there is no crime, therefore no assault and yet they continue their own internal investigation on that basis. Ridiculous.

2. >fellow teacher Samantha Bhagwandas, who was the designated lead for safeguarding

   So she’s been fired from her position, right? Because she’s clearly fucking clueless when it comes to child safety?

3. Interesting that the police report said it was a case of reasonable chastisement, which highlights just how many cases would warrant police investigation if this clause was removed.

4. Classic case of “Lord of the pencils” give small minded people some power and responsibility and it goes to their head…. And before the downvotes I know the safeguarding field very well, and I can tell you this case went this far because someone was on a power trip or was using their influence unduly.