Dinner lady loses job after reporting bullying

A SCHOOL dinner lady suspended after she informed a parent that his daughter had been bullied has been told she will not be allowed to return to work.

Carol Hill, who worked at Great Tey Primary School near Colchester in Essex, saw a seven-year-old girl whipped with a skipping rope by fellow pupils in June.

The child’s parents, who have since taken her out of the school, received a letter telling them about the incident.

Hill was suspended for “breach of confidentiality” after she told the father of the girl more details about the attack.

On Friday, she attended a disciplinary hearing at the school and yesterday she was told she would not be returning to work there.

A school spokeswoman said that she would not comment on the details of the meeting with Hill.

She said: “The detailed outcome of that meeting should be confidential between the school and our employee, Hill.

“However, we can confirm that, subject to any appeal, Hill will not be returning to work at Great Tey Primary School.”

Hill’s husband, Ron, said yesterday: “She told me she had been sacked and I could not believe it.

“She worked for seven and a half years at the school and she loved working there. She really enjoyed being around children.”

A Unison spokeswoman said she could not yet confirm if the union would be taking on Hill’s case.

“If this is what happened, it seems incredible that a school would sack a member of staff for reporting bullying.

“Bullying is a serious issue and causes damage to a huge number of children,” she said.