Ex-headteacher: 'It's been put together like a witch hunt' (From Witney Gazette)

Ex-headteacher: 'It's been put together like a witch hunt'

8:18am Wednesday 13th December 2006 in Witney

A FORMER Oxfordshire headteacher accused of 24 allegations of misconduct said even Mother Theresa would struggle to escape his predicament.

Alan Klee, former headteacher of Carterton College, yesterday admitted at a General Teaching Council hearing errors were made in his management style, but denied the charge of unacceptable professional misconduct.

Mr Klee, of Shipton-under-Wychwood, told the panel he became detached from the school due to his mother's serious illness and subsequent death and the stress placed on the school by the Iraq conflict in 2003 as many parents were fighting in the war.

Among the 24 allegations of unacceptable professional misconduct made against Mr Klee are that he bullied and intimidated 8 members of staff and accusations he ignored the governors and school policy.

Speaking about errors of judgement Mr Klee said: "Looking back I shouldn't have done what I did.

"A lot of things were borne out of personal difficulties and looking at this file on me Mother Theresa would have difficulties getting out of this one.

"All I ever wanted to do was provide education to children in my care and I find it amazing these uncorroborated allegations. It's been put together like a witch hunt."

Presenting officer Nick Lear told the hearing Mr Klee bullied and intimidated staff, showed disregard to College policy and failed to engage with staff.

He added Mr Klee prevented the governors in their statutory duty and failed in his professional duty.

In one instance Mr Klee is alleged to have been verbally aggressive to a teacher during an argument in a corridor and intimidated staff at at end of term speech claiming he would 'sort them out in September', Mr Lear told the hearing.

Mr Klee - now a headteacher in Kent - denies all allegations of unacceptable professional conduct but conceded he made errors due to exhaustion and being undermined by staff.

Clive Rawlings, teacher's representative, accused the investigation of being a 'fishing exercise' and denied Mr Klee was unprofessional or a bully but guilty of errors of judgement in handling the school governors and appointing management positions during a difficult time.

He said: "He has a forthright nature and personality."

The General Teaching Council is expected to announce a decision in the new year.