Campaign to clear teacher's name

Anne Jago organised residential trips for 28 years

Parents at a primary school in Kent have launched a campaign to clear the name of a deputy headteacher they say was unfairly dismissed.

Anne Jago, 61, taught at Painters Ash Primary in Gravesend for 30 years but lost her job last year after being disciplined over a school trip.

Parents have got up a petition and are to demonstrate at the school on Monday.

Kent County Council (KCC) said Mrs Jago withdrew from an employment tribunal over the dismissal last year.

Mrs Jago said she was suffering from clinical depression after being dismissed from the school.

"I am heartbroken to have had to leave in disgrace," she said.

She is a wonderful teacher - I was pleased to have her Jason Simmonds

Mrs Jago organised residential trips to Bowles Outdoor Education Centre in Tunbridge Wells for 28 years, where 11-year-old pupils took part in activities such as rock climbing, abseiling and canoeing.

But in 2003 she considered that one boy posed a serious risk to his own safety and that of other children.

She wrote a risk assessment to Bowles setting out her concerns.

But a school disciplinary panel found her guilty of professional misconduct, saying that it was "insensitive and unwise" to send the risk assessment.

"This was an amazing finding considering that if I had withheld the risk assessment and there had been an accident I would have been criminally liable," said Mrs Jago.

The case was to be heard by an employment tribunal in March but Mrs Jago withdrew at the last minute.

Full investigation

She said a key witness who was to speak on her behalf was unable to attend and she was scared by the potential cost if she had lost the case.

She now says she "bitterly regrets" not pressing on with the tribunal.

Former pupil Michelle Simmonds, 34, whose own children go to Painters Ash, is calling for a full investigation into what happened to Mrs Jago.

Her son, Jason, said: "She is a wonderful teacher - I was pleased to have her."

KCC said many of the details of the case were confidential.

"Mrs Jago was dismissed from Painters Ash Primary School in August last year," it said.

"(She) brought a number of claims before an employment tribunal but withdrew all of these claims before the hearing date.

"To the best of our knowledge, Mrs Jago was in receipt of legal advice throughout this process."