Singing teacher, 49, claims she was forced out of her job at top private school after blowing the whistle on sex pest colleague, 46, who 'told pupil to be "more of a c*** teaser" during auditions'

A music teacher at a top private school felt forced out of her job after blowing the whistle on a sex pest colleague who demanded a 16-year-old schoolgirl be 'more of a c*** teaser' during auditions, a tribunal heard yesterday. 

The East London Employment Tribunal heard Victoria Scott, 49, taught singing at £30,000-a-year Chigwell School in Essex for four years until May 2018 when she quit Aer post in protest at having to work with Director of Music Howard Ebden, 46.  

Mrs Scott, a mother of three,  alleges a catalogue of incidents culminating in a lewd remark made to a sixth form girl performing L'amour from French composer George Bizet's opera Carmen (1875) during an audition at the prestigious boarding school on March 13, 2018.

Victoria Scott, pictured, is taking an employment tribunal case against Chigwell School in Essex where she was employed as a singing teacher. She claims she had to leave after the school's head of music made an obscene suggestion about a 16-year-old girl during an audition at the £30,000-a-year school 

Ms Scott, 49, claims the school's head of music Howard Ebden, 46, pictured, suggested the girl who was auditioning for a part in the school's opera should be 'more of a c*** teaser'. Ms Scott said she found it uncomfortable to work with Mr Ebden following this remark

Founded in 1629 and set on 70 acres, Chigwell's alumni includes 17 century Quaker leader William Penn, actors Sir Ian Holn and Ken Campbell and TV presenter Ben Shepherd

The opera's protagonist is a Gypsy femme fatale who seduces a Spanish soldier ordered to arrest her, though at the time Mr Ebden took the view his teenage pupil's performance was not stirring enough.

After listening to the girl sing, Mr Ebden turned to Mrs Scott and said: 'How do I tell her I want her to be more of a c*** teaser!'

Founded in 1629 and set on 70 acres, Chigwell's alumni includes 17 century Quaker leader William Penn, actors Sir Ian Holn and Ken Campbell and TV presenter Ben Shepherd.

The school's website boasts of a 'family orientated community.'

Mrs Scott reported her boss's remark to the school's safeguarding officer Claire Tilbrook and later the headmaster Michael Punt.

Mrs Tilbrook in turn alerted the Local Authority Designated Officer who ruled the incident was not a safeguarding issue.

The matter was dealt with under the school's internal disciplinary code and Mr Ebden was issued with a warning letter though not suspended.

The tribunal heard he apologised for his remarks saying it was 'a two second mistake and two words.' 

But Mrs Scott, a London-based soprano, says she became anxious about returning to work with Mr Ebden after taking several weeks compassionate leave after her father died. 

She wrote to headmaster Michael Punt saying she felt 'uncomfortable' and wished to teach pupils from her home. 

Mr Punt in his evidence yesterday said he couldn't direct pupils to be taught outside school at a teacher's home. 

He later invited Mrs Scott to what he called a 'building bridges' meeting on May 9 with Mr Ebden – aimed at bringing her back to teaching at the mixed 730-pupil school. 

But Mrs Scott had not expected to see Mr Ebden and quickly became 'hysterical' in the meeting leading to the headmaster asking him to leave. 

In cross examination, Mrs Scott's barrister Mugni Islam-Choudhury rounded on Mr Punt saying the meeting was an ambush designed to 'bully her into submission or make her leave.' 

He said: 'She was outnumbered two to one, two senior male members of staff, when she had made a complaint against one of those men... it was designed to put her back in her place and intimidate a junior member of staff?' 

Mr Punt countered: 'Absolutely not. I had nothing to gain by intimidating Mrs Scott.' 

Two days later she handed in her resignation, writing: 'I was distressed Mr Ebden was at the meeting and had obviously been there for some time discussing me... this was not acceptable language from a teacher to a pupil under any circumstances... I do not wish to return to Chigwell. I cannot work in this atmosphere with someone I cannot trust.' 

Mr Punt told the hearing: 'Based on that letter, she had made her mind up. I was genuinely sad she was leaving us.'

Giving evidence today Mr Ebden - who has taught at Chigwell 10 years - insisted he didn't originally think the pupil had overheard the remark, which was made as an aside to Mrs Scott.

But he added: 'I agree that those two words were inappropriately chosen and should never have happened.'

He denied making an earlier remark to the girl of 'It's a good job I'm gay, isn't it', in an effort to coax a more 'sensual' performance from her, saying: 'That's totally fabricated. That comment never happened.'

Mrs Scott also alleges married Mr Ebden behaved inappropriately to her by a swimming pool on a school trip to Spain in July 2015 by rubbing his body against her in a 'sexualised manner.'

'It's categorically untrue,' he pleaded.

A third incident in September 2015 in which he allegedly 'hugged and nuzzled' Mrs Scott in front of pupils after running into her rehearsal room wearing an academic gown and 'pretending to be Dracula' was also denied.

Mrs Scott alleges forced resignation, harassment and discrimination.

Closing submissions will be made before Employment Judge Russell on Tuesday.