Campaigners back sacked teacher

Anne Jago had organised residential trips for many years

Campaigners are seeking to clear the name of a former deputy head teacher who was sacked for refusing to take a pupil on a school trip.

Anne Jago, 61, believed the boy was a safety threat to himself and to others.

Mrs Jago, who had taught at Painters Ash Primary School in Gravesend, Kent, for over 30 years, was sacked in August last year, after disciplinary action.

Her supporters, who believe she was wrongly dismissed, are taking her case to Education Secretary Alan Johnson.

They, and Mrs Jago, travelled to the House of Commons on Wednesday to hand in a petition with more than 1,000 signatures.

Mrs Jago said she wanted to clear her name and make sure the same thing did not happen to anyone else.

Risk assessment

She had regularly organised outings to Bowles Outdoor Education Centre in Tunbridge Wells.

Year 6 pupils (10 and 11-year-olds) took part in activities such as abseiling, rock climbing and canoeing.

But before one trip in 2002, Mrs Jago judged one particular boy to pose a safety threat to himself and to fellow pupils, so she sent a risk assessment to the centre.

"I was told I had been found guilty of professional misconduct and that I had undermined my head teacher by sending the risk assessment because she had wanted him to go on the trip," she said.

"I was eventually dismissed on disability grounds but that was depression brought on by the disciplinary procedure.

"In my final letter, it said I had undermined the head teacher which was a bit sad because that would stay on my records for life.

"It was horrible when I was dismissed as it effectively meant the end of my career."

In a statement, Kent County Council said: "It is very important to note that teachers and parents can be confident that staff leading residential school trips receive clear advice from the council and can expect full management support in their schools.

"This is a personnel issue and because many of the details are confidential, KCC cannot comment any further."