Dyslexic deputy headteacher who give up after being informed off for ‘appalling’ e-mail riddled with spelling errors loses incapacity discrimination case
A dyslexic deputy headteacher who quit after being rebuked for sending an email that was riddled with spelling errors has lost a disability discrimination claim.
Sarah Saunders, who taught at Acorn Park School in Norwich, Norfolk, claimed she was given ‘unfair and unreasonable reprimand’ for sending the email to colleagues.
Staff swiftly pointed out that the email ‘made little sense’ and appeared to have been ‘copied and pasted’ from another source, an employment tribunal heard.
Headteacher Pip Whipp told her deputy to be ‘careful’, warning her colleague that ‘staff like nothing more than to point out our errors’.
Some months later, Mrs Saunders resigned and sued for disability discrimination claiming she was suffering from ADHD, dyslexia, depression and the symptoms of menopause.
But she lost her disability discrimination claim against the school’s owner SSCP Spring Bidco Ltd.
An employment tribunal judge ruled that Mrs Saunders held an ‘extremely important position’ and was expected to hold herself to a ‘high standard’.
Mrs Saunders began working at Acorn Park, a specialist school for autistic pupils aged five to 19, in August 2020.
![Dyslexic deputy headteacher Sarah Saunders lost a discrimination claim against Acorn Park School in Norwich, Norfolk (pictured)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/10/14/92998615-14177667-image-m-3_1733840007619.jpg)
Dyslexic deputy headteacher Sarah Saunders lost a discrimination claim against Acorn Park School in Norwich, Norfolk (pictured)
She was friends with Mrs Whipp, but the pair had a ‘strained’ relationship, the Norwich tribunal heard.
In September 2022, Mrs Saunders sent the email to staff which attracted criticism.
‘Although it was accepted [Mrs Saunders] generally had good written communication, on 27 September 2022 [she] sent an email to staff including the headteacher which contained a large number of spelling and grammatical errors,’ the tribunal was told.
‘It appears that [Mrs Saunders] had copied and pasted text written by a third party which contained [the] errors, made little sense and was not the sort of communication that one would expect from a deputy head.
‘The email from the head of 28 September 2022 to [Mrs Saunders] simply read, “this is a useful document but please do check this type of thing carefully before sending.
“Not only are there spelling and grammar mistakes, but the reference to support staff keeps slipping to she rather than them.
“I have already had two teachers point this out to me before I had a chance to read it myself. You know that staff like nothing more than to point out our errors. Thanks, Pip”.’
Employment Judge Robin Postle said Mrs Whipp’s response was ‘not unreasonable’.
![Mrs Saunders told an employment tribunal (held at Norwich Magistrates' Court) that she was given an 'unfair and unreasonable reprimand' for sending an email to her colleagues that was riddled with errors](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/10/14/92998591-14177667-image-a-4_1733840022572.jpg)
Mrs Saunders told an employment tribunal (held at Norwich Magistrates’ Court) that she was given an ‘unfair and unreasonable reprimand’ for sending an email to her colleagues that was riddled with errors
The report added: ‘There followed on 11 November 2022 a meeting between [Mrs Saunders] and Mrs Whipp in which they were addressing a number of concerns about [Mrs Saunders’] performance, at which Mrs Whipp did describe the email as appalling.
‘[Mrs Saunders] had appropriate software which would correct spelling errors and had in the past a back up of admin to assist with writing emails.’
The tribunal heard that staff had also raised concerns about Mrs Saunders’ behaviour towards them.
‘The staff had complained about [her] style, her management being inconsistent and, ‘[they] never knew which Mrs Saunders they were going to get’,’ the tribunal heard.
‘Apparently staff were becoming reticent about approaching [Mrs Saunders], particularly there was an issue of [her] approachability.’
It was heard at the time Mrs Saunders was suffering health problems related to menopause.
She eventually resigned in February 2023.
Mrs Saunders alleged she was discriminated over a referral to occupational health, for trying to ‘job creep’ and encroach on the headteacher’s duties, over claims her performance was poor, and due to the response to her email.
She also brought a claim of constructive unfair dismissal.
Judge Postle dismissed all claims and said the email response was fair.
Judge Postle said: ‘It is important to remind ourselves that [Mrs Saunders] held the position of deputy head, that is an extremely important position and one would expect the deputy head to conduct themselves appropriately, in particular ensuring that when they send out emails they are, as far as is possible, of the upmost quality.
‘Unfortunately, [Mrs Saunders] sent out an email in September 2022 which clearly contained spelling and grammatical errors which was entirely inappropriate.
‘[Mrs Saunders] could have used the spellcheck which is on the [school’s] software and [Mrs Saunders] did have some administrative support to assist with her dyslexia.
‘So when the email was sent out it is not surprising given the quality of that email that Mrs Whipp… did describe it as an appalling email.
‘The standard of the deputy heads in their communication must be extremely high.
‘[Mrs Whipp’s response] was done entirely appropriately given [Mrs Saunders] position within the school, particularly the high standard that is required of all staff but particularly deputy heads.’