'Toxic' culture in education department - union

A head teachers' union has raised a formal dispute with the education department on the Isle of Man, making claims of a "toxic culture" and an abuse of policies.

The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) has written to the island's interim chief executive, Mark Lewin, also citing their concerns over alleged "bullying and intimidation of school leaders".

The NAHT's Robert Kelsall has called for a meeting "at the earliest opportunity, to seek a resolution and to avoid any further escalation of this dispute".

The Department of Education, Sport & Culture (Desc) said it acknowledged the serious nature of the concerns raised by the union, but "completely refutes" the allegations.

"They do not reflect the standards or values we uphold within the department," it said, in a statement.

Neither party has included the details of any specific cases which could have led to the collective dispute.

A collective dispute is a complaint by a group of employees in connection with their employment, which is pursued on their behalf by the union representing them.

In his letter, Mr Kelsall said the union had been "compelled to raise a formal collective dispute regarding a flagrant abuse of established policies and procedures, bullying and intimidation of school leaders, and the fostering of a toxic culture within Desc".

The alleged breaches "disproportionately and exclusively" affect NAHT members and "represent a direct attack on the union membership and legitimate activities" of members and officials, Mr Kelsall said.

He stated there had been a "significant breakdown in industrial relations and a profound loss of trust and confidence in the senior leadership of the department".

A Desc spokesman said the department believed the concerns stemmed "from a matter that has been under discussion for some time and remains subject to ongoing internal processes", adding it would be "inappropriate to comment further to ensure due process, fairness, and confidentiality".

He said the department remained committed to "working constructively with all recognised teaching unions".

He said Desc was "open to meaningful dialogue" and maintaining a "respectful and collaborative relationship with all education partners – including school leaders and their representatives".

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