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04/07/2005
Prince Harry teacher wins tribunal
The art teacher, who claimed to have helped Prince Harry cheat in an exam, has won her case for unfair dismissal against Eton College.
Sarah Forsyth, 30, won her case for unfair dismissal under Sections 111 and 98 of the Employment Rights Act 1996. However, her claims that the Prince received help with his art work and coursework for his AS-level exam, as well as an additional claim for sex discrimination, were rejected by the tribunal.
Miss Forsyth had secretly tape-recorded a conversation with the head of the college’s art department, Ian Burke, as well as Prince Harry, prior to her leaving her post at Eton College in 2003, because her contract had not been renewed.
The tribunal accepted Miss Forsyth’s claims that Mr Burke had bullied her. The tribunal panel said: “He (Mr Burke) did undermine and bully her (Miss Forsyth) and that is evident by his use of the phrase ‘The kid gloves are off’”.
The tribunal also criticised Mr Burke, saying that he had changed his story throughout the hearing and described his evidence as “inconsistent”.
Eton headmaster, Anthony Little, was also criticised by the tribunal for failing to examine Miss Forsyth’s situation independently, instead following his predecessor’s decision to extend her contract for one year only.
The college also came under fire for the failure to produce any “capability procedure”, which led the panel to conclude, “clearly none was followed”.
However, Miss Forsyth was criticised herself for her decision to record her conversation with Prince Harry and the panel were not convinced by her claims that she and other members of staff had helped the Prince to cheat in his coursework.
Miss Forsyth had claimed that she had written part of the Prince’s coursework and also alleged that Mr Burke had worked on one of the Prince’s paintings.
A statement from Clarence House said that they were “delighted” that Prince Harry had been cleared of cheating.
A spokesperson for Eton College said that the college would attempt to prevent Miss Forsyth from claiming compensation, saying that her behaviour had amounted to “gross misconduct”. The college maintains that Miss Forsyth’s contract was not renewed because she failed to meet the “high standards” they required.
(KMcA/MB)
Sarah Forsyth, 30, won her case for unfair dismissal under Sections 111 and 98 of the Employment Rights Act 1996. However, her claims that the Prince received help with his art work and coursework for his AS-level exam, as well as an additional claim for sex discrimination, were rejected by the tribunal.
Miss Forsyth had secretly tape-recorded a conversation with the head of the college’s art department, Ian Burke, as well as Prince Harry, prior to her leaving her post at Eton College in 2003, because her contract had not been renewed.
The tribunal accepted Miss Forsyth’s claims that Mr Burke had bullied her. The tribunal panel said: “He (Mr Burke) did undermine and bully her (Miss Forsyth) and that is evident by his use of the phrase ‘The kid gloves are off’”.
The tribunal also criticised Mr Burke, saying that he had changed his story throughout the hearing and described his evidence as “inconsistent”.
Eton headmaster, Anthony Little, was also criticised by the tribunal for failing to examine Miss Forsyth’s situation independently, instead following his predecessor’s decision to extend her contract for one year only.
The college also came under fire for the failure to produce any “capability procedure”, which led the panel to conclude, “clearly none was followed”.
However, Miss Forsyth was criticised herself for her decision to record her conversation with Prince Harry and the panel were not convinced by her claims that she and other members of staff had helped the Prince to cheat in his coursework.
Miss Forsyth had claimed that she had written part of the Prince’s coursework and also alleged that Mr Burke had worked on one of the Prince’s paintings.
A statement from Clarence House said that they were “delighted” that Prince Harry had been cleared of cheating.
A spokesperson for Eton College said that the college would attempt to prevent Miss Forsyth from claiming compensation, saying that her behaviour had amounted to “gross misconduct”. The college maintains that Miss Forsyth’s contract was not renewed because she failed to meet the “high standards” they required.
(KMcA/MB)
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