Kennington News

A PHYSICS teacher given top marks by Ofsted inspectors is claiming racial and religious discrimination forced him out of the job he loved.

Rastafarian Ive Dejonge worked at The Academy in Peckham until March 2005, when he claims he left after his life was made unbearable because he complained about a senior member of staff.

Mr Dejonge said that in March 2004 a senior manager at the Lyndham Way school had subjected him to a humiliating tirade in front of pupils over a problem with his marking.

He claimed there had been no investigation into his complaint and he did not get to see headteacher Peter Crook about the matter for eight weeks.

Mr Dejonge, 54, told the tribunal: "I have been bullied. They thought I would knuckle under and drop my case rather than deal with it. When I have spent most of my working life as a teacher this doesn't make me feel comfortable.

"I am a team player, I work well with people and I like teaching science."

The teacher, who is being represented by his wife, Nehanda Nyakasikane,told the hearing he had been discriminated against because the school was changing to an academy and staff were jealous of the rapport he had with students.

The tribunal also heard that the dismissal had affected Mr Dejonge's health.

Giving evidence at the hearing,deputy head Vivian Walker said there had never been a problem with Mr Dejonge's work andthat although she had offered to be a referee for him, no requests had reached her.

Mr Dejonge,from Kennington, has a physics and maths degree from University College London.

The school denies Mr Dejonge's claims. The hearing is due to end tomorrow.