‘I was called curry lover and humiliated by other teachers’: The toxic truth about staffroom bullying

Published

9 months ago

October 23, 2024

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Warning: This story contains references to suicide along with racist and sexist language readers may find distressing.

When Maya* started a new teaching job, she did not expect to be called the n-word as she walked down the corridor.

The bullying from her fellow teachers proved relentless. She was called a “curry lover” and believes she was hidden from meeting parents at one point due to her skin colour.

It was not just racism she faced there but also sexism. Male colleagues told her she would have to “bend over a desk to get a promotion” and had “blowjob lips”. Incidents like these happened “almost every day”, she says.

Eventually forced to leave her job, Maya signed a Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA) making her unable to speak about the abuse she suffered. As part of the conditions of her exit, she also received a significant payout, which she describes as “money to keep quiet”.

Sky News has spoken to over 320 current and former teachers from state, private and special schools across the UK, who allege having been bullied at work. Among those, 119 say they signed NDAs and received payouts ranging from the low thousands to tens of thousands of pounds in compensation.

Sky News has calculated that the total amount of money paid to these teachers is more than £1.73m.

This is taxpayers’ money meant for school budgets, which is instead being used to pay teachers to leave. We cannot verify when the earliest of these payments was made, but most were completed within the last decade.

The National Education Union, the UK’s largest education union, confirmed that the “vast majority” of financial settlements included NDAs.

NDAs used to ‘cover up’ bullying

The use of these NDAs was “not appropriate,” said Phil Clarke, the NEU National president. He added that the use of them was “covering up” or preventing further investigation into whether “it was appropriate for the individual, and an appropriate use of public money, for them to be paid to exit a school”.

Maya says she felt there was no other option but to accept the payment and NDA to escape the bullying, which left her feeling “worthless, sad and suicidal”.

Over a third of the teachers we spoke to have experienced similar thoughts and made plans to harm themselves to escape the bullying. A handful have gone as far as trying to end their lives.

It’s a familiar story for Tracy*, who says she “drove into school each morning willing myself to have an accident so I didn’t have to go in”.

Suicidal after management bullying

A teacher for 25 years, she loved her job and rose to a senior leadership position. Tracy says that during a move to change the school to an academy, she was “targeted” and bullied by the new management because she “questioned the direction” they were taking.

In her role, Tracy says she was privy to the “tactics” used on other members of staff and so when she was put on a performance plan, she knew it was “code for you don’t fit, we want you out”.

She told Sky News the “impact [of bullying] was such that I was suicidal and fundamentally unable to function at even the simplest level for a period of time”.

Tracy was also paid out and signed an NDA.

Among the teachers we spoke to, the academisation of schools came up repeatedly as a catalyst for bullying.

A school might become an academy by choice or if they are rated ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted. Teachers say they are run as businesses, with CEOs and a board, without the due care for teachers.

Humiliated, belittled, ridiculed

As part of this investigation over 200 teachers shared written testimony of the bullying they suffered. This is just a snapshot of what they experienced:

• “I would debate leaving my class and ending everything, nothing in my life felt worthwhile.”

• “I used to spend my evenings sitting shaking, I couldn’t believe what was happening to me.”

• “My four years in teaching reduced me to a suicidal shell… I was humiliated, belittled, ridiculed.”

• “I suffered a panic attack so severe that paramedics were called for a suspected heart attack.”

• “I tried to take my own life because I didn’t believe in my abilities to teach anymore.”

• “The headteacher tried to destroy my career when I blew the whistle against him.”

• “I loved teaching but hated the micromanagement, bullying and toxicity of the department I worked in. It turned me into an emotional wreck.”

• “I was having panic attacks in my car, I cried so much I had to pull over in a lay-by several times. It took me over a year to recover.”

‘Power imbalance’ between teachers and heads

Speaking to Sky News, the National Education Union confirmed that the growth of multi-academy trusts has contributed to a “significant” power imbalance between management and teaching staff.

Phil Clarke, the NEU National President said academies are run as a “corporate system”, but “without the safeguards and professional respect that corporate environments would provide”.

Responding to the findings of this investigation, he confirmed that schools are becoming “more authoritarian places to work”.

How this culture of bullying is fixed is a complex question with no easy answer.

Attitudes need to change

Teachers throughout this investigation say that attitudes from senior leaders and managers need to change. The National Education Union says headteachers are under immense pressure from Ofsted, which can lead to this approach towards getting rid of staff.

Ofsted declined to comment on the findings of our investigation. Instead, a spokesperson said they always seek to minimise “undue pressure on those we work with” and that they were “ready to hear feedback, accept criticism and reform”.

Appealing directly to the government, Maya asked for the abolition of NDAs within schools, so teachers could speak out without “legal repercussions”.

Responding to this investigation Education Minister, Catherine McKinnell, said: “All school staff should feel safe and supported at work, and confident in being able to report concerns – and we expect school leaders as employers to take appropriate action to tackle any issues that are raised.

“For our part, we are determined to reset the relationship with education workforces so together we can drive high and rising standards across our schools.

“We have also worked in partnership with the education sector and mental health experts to create the Education Staff Wellbeing Charter – and encourage schools to sign up as a shared commitment to promote staff wellbeing.”

*Names have been changed

If you are a teacher and have had experiences similar to those discussed above and are willing to share them please email us at Sky.Today@sky.uk

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.

UK

Post Office scandal: Daughter has had ‘panic attacks’ since mum was accused of stealing

Published

4 hours ago

July 8, 2025

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Post Office scandal: Daughter has had 'panic attacks' since mum was accused of stealing

The daughter of a Post Office victim has told Sky News she suffered “dark thoughts of suicide” in the years after her mother was accused of stealing.

Kate Burrows was 14 years old when her mother, Elaine Hood, was prosecuted and subsequently convicted in 2003.

The first public inquiry report on the Post Office – examining redress and the “human impact” of the scandal – is due to be published today.

“I’ve suffered with panic attacks from about 14, 15 years old, and I still have them to this day,” Kate said.

“I’ve been in and out of therapy for what feels like most of my adult life and it absolutely categorically goes back to [what happened].”

Kate, along with others, helped set up the charity Lost Chances, supporting the children of Post Office victims. She hopes the inquiry will recognise their suffering.

“It’s important that our voices are heard,” she said. “Not only within the report, but in law actually.

“And then maybe that would be a deterrent for any future cover-ups, that it’s not just the one person it’s the whole family [affected].”

Her sister, Rebecca Richards, who was 18 when their mother was accused, described how an eating disorder “escalated” after what happened.

“When my mum was going through everything, my only control of that situation was what food I put in my body,” she said.

She also said that seeing her mother at court when she was convicted, would “stay with me forever”.

“The two investigators were sat in front of my dad and I, sniggering and saying ‘we’ve got this one’.

“To watch my mum in the docks handcuffed to a guard… not knowing if she was going to be coming home… that is the most standout memory for me.”

The sisters are hoping the inquiry findings will push Fujitsu into fulfilling a promise they made nearly a year ago – to try and help the children of victims.

Last summer, Kate met with the European boss of the company, Paul Patterson, who said he would look at ways they could support Lost Chances.

Despite appearing at the inquiry in November last year and saying he would not “stay silent” on the issue, Kate said there has been little movement in terms of support.

“It’s very much a line of ‘we’re going to wait until the end of the inquiry report to decide’,” she said.

“But Mr Patterson met us in person, looked us in the eye, and we shared the most deeply personal stories and he said we will do something… they need to make a difference.”

Fujitsu, who developed the faulty Horizon software, has said it is in discussions with the government regarding a contribution to compensation.

The inquiry will delve in detail into redress schemes, of which four exist, three controlled by the government and one by the Post Office.

Victims of the scandal say they are hoping Sir Wyn Williams, chair of the inquiry, will recommend that the government and the Post Office are removed from the redress schemes as thousands still wait for full and fair redress.

A Department for Business and Trade spokesperson said they were “grateful” for the inquiry’s work, describing “the immeasurable suffering” victims endured and saying the government has “quadrupled the total amount paid to affected postmasters”, with more than £1bn having now been paid to thousands of claimants.

UK

Drones are sending ‘overwhelming amounts’ of drugs into prisons – and could help inmates escape, report warns

Published

11 hours ago

July 7, 2025

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Drones are sending 'overwhelming amounts' of drugs into prisons - and could help inmates escape, report warns

Sophisticated drones sending “overwhelming amounts” of drugs and weapons into prisons represent a threat to national security, according to an annual inspection report by the prisons watchdog.

HMP chief inspector of prisons Charlie Taylor has warned criminal gangs are targeting jails and making huge profits selling contraband to a “vulnerable and bored” prison population.

The watchdog boss reiterated his concerns about drones making regular deliveries to two Category A jails, HMP Long Lartin and HMP Manchester, which hold “the most dangerous men in the country”, including terrorists.

Mr Taylor said “the police and prison service have in effect ceded the airspace” above these two high-security prisons, which he said was compromising the “safety of staff, prisoners, and ultimately that of the public”.

“The possibility now whereby we’re seeing packages of up to 10kg brought in by serious organised crime means that in some prisons there is now a menu of drugs available,” he said. “Anything from steroids to cannabis, to things like spice and cocaine.”

“Drone technology is moving fast… there is a level of risk that’s posed by drones that I think is different from what we’ve seen in the past,” warned the chief inspector – who also said there’s a “theoretical risk” that a prisoner could escape by being carried out of a jail by a drone.

He urged the prison service to “get a grip” of the issue, stating: “We’d like to see the government, security services, coming together, using technology, using intelligence, so that this risk doesn’t materialise.”

The report makes clear that physical security – such as netting, windows and CCTV – is “inadequate” in some jails, including Manchester, with “inexperienced staff” being “manipulated”.

Mr Taylor said there are “basic” measures which could help prevent the use of drones, such as mowing the lawn, “so we don’t get packages disguised as things like astro turf”.

Responding to the report, the Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT) said: “The ready access to drugs is deeply worrying and is undermining efforts to create places of rehabilitation.”

Mr Taylor’s report found that overcrowding continues to be what he described as a “major issue”, with increasing levels of violence against staff and between prisoners, combined with a lack of purposeful activity.

Some 20% of adult men responding to prisoner surveys said they felt unsafe at the time of the inspection, increasing to 30% in the high security estate.

Andrea Coomber, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: “This report is a checklist for all the reasons the government must prioritise reducing prison numbers, urgently.

“Sentencing reform is essential, and sensible steps to reduce the prison population would save lives.”

The report comes after the government pledged to accept most of the recommendations proposed in the independent review of sentencing policy, with the aim of freeing up around 9,500 spaces.

Those measures won’t come into effect until spring 2026.

Prisons Minister Lord Timpson said Mr Taylor’s findings show “the scale of the crisis” the government “inherited”, with “prisons dangerously full, rife with drugs and violence”.

He said: “After just 500 prison places added in 14 years, we’re building 14,000 extra – with 2,400 already delivered – and reforming sentencing to ensure we never run out of space again.

“We’re also investing £40m to bolster security, alongside stepping up cooperation with police to combat drones and stop the contraband which fuels violence behind bars.”