A headteacher ran his school as a “dictatorship,” a disciplinary hearing has been told.
Philip Jones is facing an Education Workforce Council fitness to practise committee over his time as head of Heolddu Comprehensive School in Bargoed between 2006 and 2013.
The claim was made by science teacher Paula Poole was part of a teachers’ union NASUWT that launched strike action against Philip Jones, 50, in 2012.
Teachers raised concerns over changes to the sickness absence policy at the school and allegations of bullying in senior management.
Jones eventually took secondment in October 2012 and officially resigned in 2013.
Mrs Poole told the hearing she took on more roles at Heolddu Comprehensive School in Bargoed to assist the head of year.
But she claims headmaster Jones told her it was an “Irish promotion” – meaning she would not get any increase in wages.
Mrs Poole told the disciplinary hearing in Cardiff that Jones would make staff work through their lunch breaks and spoke to teachers as though they were pupils.
She said: “We felt like it was a dictatorship at the school. We were basically spoken to as pupils at the school.
“A number of people at the school felt like they were being bullied to take on roles.
“I was told I was given an Irish promotion.”
The hearing was told Jones would hold daily morning meetings to celebrate changes he had made to the school, often making teachers late for registration.
Mrs Poole said: “I think to be greeted lots of mornings with ‘another day another trophy’ is not something I need.
“I don’t think it was a celebration to the teachers it was more of the ‘changes I made.'”
Jones, who worked at the school between 2006 and 2013, has denied all allegations against him.
He is accused of failing to deal with allegations of bullying in the school, telling two staff members to “kiss and make up” and calling staff the “Taliban.”
The former head is also accused of dictating coursework to pupils.
The hearing, due to last two weeks, continues.