Headteacher accused of 'unacceptable conduct' toward her husband

Former infant school headteacher facing ‘unacceptable professional conduct’ hearing after staff accused her of failing to deal with the behaviour of her employee husband

• Former infant school headteacher has been accused of bullying her colleagues
• Nicola Blythin is accused of failing to act on complaints against her husband 
• Her husband Graham was also a member of staff at the school at the same time
• They have now both been stood down pending an investigation into behaviour 

A former infant school headteacher has been accused of bullying her colleagues and favouring her husband, who was also a teacher on staff. 

Nicola Blythin was appointed headteacher at St Asaph VP School in North Wales in 2009 and was initially well liked and respected, a colleague said.

But a questionnaire issued by the governors in 2018 highlighted several key issues under her leadership; particularly concerns that she allegedly ignored complaints against her husband Graham.

The report found sickness levels among staff skyrocketed due to stress because Nicola was allegedly unwilling to confront Graham about any of her colleagues’ concerns.

Denbighshire County Council launched an investigation which led to both Nicola and Graham being suspended.

She is now the subject of a fitness to practice hearing for seven allegations of unacceptable professional conduct.

Nicola Blythin was appointed headteacher at St Asaph VP School (pictured) in North Wales in 2009

She is not participating in the hearing, which is being conducted remotely. 

Although Graham is not the subject of the current action he is implicated in some of the allegations.

Nicola, who was appointed head in 2009, is said to have ‘demonstrated bullying and/or intimidating behaviour towards staff members’ by telling them not to speak to deputy head Lynne Pepper about their concerns.

She is also accused of seeking out complaints about another member of staff from colleagues and parents.

It is also alleged she failed to attend a school carol concert in St Asaph Cathedral, leaving three teaching assistants in charge, failed to ensure Graham implemented various school systems and initiatives, and allowed him four afternoons a week for his duties as special needs coordinator when others felt one afternoon was sufficient.

Charlotte Bowers, who became chairman of the governors in 2019, described Nicola as ‘a lovely lady, quite emotional, but seemed under quite a lot of pressure in the work environment’.

Graham, she said, had a ‘loud, booming’ voice, claiming: ‘He did come across as intimidating.’

Mrs Bowers said she contacted the education authority regarding policies involving a husband and wife working dynamic, but said there was not one in place.

‘Nicola said she was struggling with their professional relationship but didn’t ask for support guidance,’ she said.

Asked by a panel member how things had changed after the Blythins were suspended, Mrs Bowers said: ‘It was like a big weight had been lifted off the school.

‘It was felt that it was going in the right direction. The atmosphere was lighter and it was a happy place to be.’

Other serious allegations levelled by staff included that Nicola failed to respond to allegations her husband often shouted at pupils and used disproportionate force to hold down a five-year-old girl having a tantrum.

Staff also alleged he once held a pair of scissors close to a pupil’s face and asked a female pupil to remove her vest when changing for a PE lessons.

Presenting officer Patrick Llewelyn said that the allegations individually and/or together, constituted unacceptable professional conduct.

The school’s former deputy head Nia Daly broke down in tears while giving evidence at the hearing.

She said she sought counselling to help her come to terms with what was happening at the school and considered leaving the profession entirely.

Mrs Daly, who is now head of Eglwysbach primary school in the Conwy Valley, said she sometimes broke down in ‘floods of tears’ at the end of the school day.

The fitness to practice hearing heard Mrs Daly complained several times to Nicola about her husband’s alleged treatment of teaching assistants and pupils.

On one occasion, she alleged Graham was ‘screaming’ so loud at a boy in class that she and other teachers came out of their rooms to see what was happening.

Mrs Daly said that she was once left sobbing after being screamed at and reported it to Nicola, who allegedly said she would speak to her husband.

However, Nicola allegedly later said: ‘I have spoken to him but he won’t apologise.’

She also believed Nicola had turned Denbighshire education officers, with whom she had previously had a good relationship, against her.

‘I felt my name had been tarnished at county level,’ she said.

Her only option, she felt, was to move schools and she even considered jobs in Bolton and Wolverhampton.

Nicola is also accused of leaving school early on more than occasion without reasonable excuse and Mrs Daly said that on one occasion it was to prepare for her son’s birthday party.

Similar allegations came in statements from teaching assistants Naomi Foulkes and Danielle Owen, who claimed Graham got away with unacceptable behaviour because of his wife’s position.

Ms Foulkes alleged he referred to other members of staff as ‘b***h’ and ‘cow’, which was unacceptable.

Ms Owen claimed: ‘There was a divide within the school which comprised of the Blythins and the rest of the staff.’

Another witness, Mrs Pepper, who became deputy head in 2019 and acting head when Nicola left, described her former colleague as ‘a nice person, knowledgeable and good at her job’.

She said: ‘The only problem is she seemed reluctant to stand up to her husband at work.’

Mrs Pepper said that Graham, too, was ‘knowledgeable and charming’, but added: ‘Graham Blythin pulled strings in the management of the school and was allowed to do what he wanted.’

The hearing continues. 

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