Top school denies 'gaslighting' claims at tribunal

Ellesmere teacher Aldona Done with her husband Dave at the tribunal in Birmingham

The acting head teacher of a top boarding school has defended its behaviour after an employee said she was “gaslighted” for raising concerns about pupil safety.

Aldona Done claims Ellesmere College in Shropshire did not do enough to support her when she revealed she was suffering from mental health issues.

She told an employment tribunal in Birmingham city centre she was later forced out as a housemistress after being told she could not cope.

But Vicky Pritt-Roberts, acting headteacher, insisted the school had done nothing wrong.

Mrs Done, who is still employed at the school as a maths teacher, was previously responsible for 80 girl boarders.

She suffered a breakdown in May 2021 shortly after attending hospital with a pupil she believed had tried to take her own life.

Ellesmere College acting head teacher Vicky Pritt-Roberts defended the school

On Tuesday, Mrs Done told the tribunal the school should have done more to look after her while she was working as a housemistress.

She said she had provided Mrs Pritt-Roberts, then deputy head, with an NHS letter in 2019, making it clear she was having problems.

But Mrs Pritt-Roberts denied the letter was proof of serious mental health struggles, saying a conversation at the time suggested a "low level" issue.

It was agreed Mrs Done could have time off to attend therapy but there was no indication further action was required, Mrs Pritt-Roberts added.

"You made it very plain it was not going to impact your work," she told Mrs Done at the tribunal.

"You seemed very keen it was a private matter. I did not probe any further because it would not be appropriate for me to do so."

School 'not aware'

Mrs Done suggested she should have received further support after finding the back-end of the Covid pandemic difficult at the beginning of 2021.

But Mrs Pritt-Roberts told the tribunal she would not handle the case any differently today.

The school boss said wellbeing information was sent to all staff when the country was locked down for a second time.

But she insisted she didn't know enough about Mrs Done's health issues to provide additional support.

Ellesmere College is responding to claims by Mrs Done at an employment tribunal

Mrs Done, from Wrexham, began working at Ellesmere College in 2008 and was promoted to housemistress of its St Aidan's house in 2013.

She has levelled more than a dozen allegations at the £38,000-a-year school, including discrimination relating to her health issues and being made to work in a stressful environment with an unreasonable number of students.

She said she was forced to give up the housemistress role in July 2023 after a two-year clash with management, including long-serving head teacher Brendan Wignall who died from cancer last month.

The tribunal is expected to conclude in March.