£14,000 for school secretary who had an affair with head
A school secretary who had an affair with a ‘super-head’ brought in to turn around her failing school has been awarded £14,000 after he kept his job and she couldn’t carry on in hers.
Angela Honeywell agreed the out-of-court settlement with education bosses at Wiltshire Council before the start of an industrial tribunal where she would claim constructive dismissal against Clarendon College in Trowbridge.
The affair and very public fall-out caused a scandal in the town in the summer and autumn of 2011, just when Mark Stenton, the head teacher brought in to the secondary school earlier that year to turn around its fortunes, was already causing controversy.
Clarendon had earlier been put into special measures after a damning Ofsted inspection and Mr Stenton was brought in to bring the school back up to standard. His affair with Mrs Honeywell, who worked on the school’s admin team, began soon after he arrived and by that summer, Mrs Honeywell’s husband Chris had moved out of the family home, and Mr Stenton had moved in.
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But when the married couple were reconciled in October 2011, the police were called to their home to keep Mr Stenton away – he was seen by neighbours trying to kick in the door of the house in Bradford Road, Trowbridge.
He later sent a text to the Honeywells’ teenage daughter – a pupil at his school – threatening suicide.
Mr Stenton kept his job after an investigation by governors, but when Mrs Honeywell returned, she claimed her job was left untenable.
She left her job formally in April last year, after an extended period off sick.
She claimed constructive dismissal, wrongful dismissal and detriment against both Wiltshire Council and the academy trust of Clarendon Academy. In the time between Mrs Honeywell leaving and her case being heard now, Clarendon College became an academy school and left local authority control, but the case related to a period when the school was being overseen by Wiltshire Council – so the case was against the council too.
A claim against Mr Stenton for sexual harassment was dismissed at an earlier hearing.
Mr Stenton declined to comment yesterday, but a statement was issued on behalf of both the school and Wiltshire Council. “The priority of everyone concerned is to ensure the pupils have the best learning environment possible, without unnecessary distractions,” the joint statement said.
7 Comments
by wheelie_bin
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 6:54PM
“Repetition I'm afraid, Bert_star. Bring on the next contestant.”
by Bert_star
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 12:31AM
“£14,000 or the respect of your family, friends and neighbours? I know what I'd rather have. This woman has to go to sleep every night next to her now reconciled husband wondering what he really thinks of her. Her children, will wake up every morning and she'll be wondering what they really think of her. She will also have to walk passed her neighbours knowing that they hold her in absolute contempt. Friends may say they support her, but what are they really thinking? Money won't buy you everything Mrs Honeywell.
As for that Mr Stenton, he should learn to keep it in his trousers, the school/academy is about the children, not his ego. Mr Stenton, you should being doing everything to maximise the potential chances of our children to make their way in the world, not maximising your potential chances with any of the admin staff that make their way into your world!”
by Bert_star
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 12:31AM
“£14,000 or the respect of your family, friends and neighbours? I know what I'd rather have. This woman has to go to sleep every night next to her now reconciled husband wondering what he really thinks of her. Her children, will wake up every morning and she'll be wondering what they really think of her. She will also have to walk passed her neighbours knowing that they hold her in absolute contempt. Friends may say they support her, but what are they really thinking? Money won't buy you everything Mrs Honeywell.
As for that Mr Stenton, he should learn to keep it in his trousers, the school/academy is about the children, not his ego. Mr Stenton, you should being doing everything to maximise the potential chances of our children to make their way in the world, not maximising your potential chances with any of the admin staff that make their way into your world!”
by Bert_star
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 12:18AM
“The vast majority will hold a similar view regarding this despicable woman. She has to go to sleep at night next to her now reconciled husband wondering exactly what he really thinks of her. Their children asleep in the rooms next door have to wake up every morning knowing what their mum has done. This woman will walk the streets wondering what people are thinking of her as she passes them by.
Given the choice of £14,000 or the respect of my family and neighbours, I know what I'd rather have. Money doesn't buy everything Mrs Honeywell.
For balance, that Mr Stenton could do with keeping it in his trousers and concentrating on his job. He should be doing everything to ensure our children maximise their potential rather than maximise his potential chances with the admin staff. The school/academy is about the children, not your ego Mr Stenton.
Vile”
by MoeXXX
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 11:46PM
“@KazVan, the school is now an academy, so you should be free to start an affair with any staff member you like. Teaching qualifications are no longer a problem so you could persuade the other party to give you a job as head of maths department or something, which should pay a far higher rate of compensation than admin ;-)”
by jezer
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 4:56PM
“I imagine the students loved all this. What an example to set! Have I misunderstood, or is the head still in post at the same school? Surely he can't be.”
by KazVan
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 3:43PM
“I have followed this story via the Wiltshire Times. So Angela Honeywell had an affair with the Head Teacher, engaged in sexual activity on school premises and moved him into her marital home. How classy - I feel sorry for her husband and children. How humiliating for them having it all plastered over the local papers. Then she has the front to expect and accept a £14,000 payout from Wiltshire Council. Did the Taxpayer also end up paying her legal bill (and Mark Stenton's as well)?
I hope she now does the decent thing and moves away from Trowbridge. If so, I may be tempted to start an affair with Mark Stenton the Head Teacher (although I would draw the line at sex on school premises). I am unemployed and have been for a year and £14,000 would be a year's salary for me. Beats getting a job!!!”