'HEAD TEACHER SAID HE IMAGINED ME IN A BIKINI'
Additional accusations of inappropriate conduct have surfaced against Gregory Hill, a former head teacher already convicted of harassment.In August, Hill was sentenced to 20 weeks in jail after being found guilty of harassing a 23-year-old trainee teacher over an 11-month period while employed at Howard Junior School in King's Lynn, Norfolk.
Hannah Gidman, now 26, who worked at the school in 2019, stated that Hill also behaved inappropriately toward her.
She recalled one instance where he remarked that he had pictured her wearing a bikini.
The BBC interviewed four more women who reported similar experiences during their time working with Hill.
Hill did not respond when contacted about these new claims.
Ms Gidman had recently completed her teacher training and moved from Australia to the UK in 2019.
At just 22, she began working at Howard Junior School and initially found Hill’s demeanour “intense but positive.” She said tensions emerged when she attended a dinner with colleagues and Hill expressed annoyance at being excluded.
“That was the first red flag,” she said.
Gidman added that Hill later told her he could envision her on a beach in a bikini comments she described as making her feel “icky” and “uncomfortable.” She alleged Hill made sexualised remarks weekly, but she chose not to file a formal complaint at the time, fearing it might cost her job.
“I don’t think anyone should have to go through what me and other people I worked with went through,” she said.
Ms Gidman did not report the incidents to the police.
Four additional women, all of whom requested anonymity, also accused Hill of inappropriate behaviour during their tenure at the school.
These women were not involved in the harassment case that led to Hill’s conviction.
According to their accounts, Hill routinely made remarks about their appearance.
One woman said, “My looks should have nothing to do with how I'm doing my job.” Another stated that Hill’s behaviour made her feel persistently “uncomfortable,” ultimately prompting her to leave a position she “loved.” When asked why they hadn’t come forward earlier, the women said they feared retaliation or job loss.
Hill declined to respond to any of the allegations presented to him.
Earlier this year, the court heard that Hill pursued a romantic relationship with the trainee teacher, even messaging her that he had “fallen in love.” He was also reported to have isolated her from colleagues and exerted control over her.
In addition to his prison sentence, Hill received a four-year stalking protection order.
This prohibits him from contacting the victim or going to her workplace, and places restrictions on his use of phones and social media.
Hill was also convicted of resisting arrest, with police bodycam footage showing him resisting officers and wrestling with them on the ground.
Since December 2023, Howard Junior School has operated under the Eastern Multi-Academy Trust (EMAT).
At the time of the reported misconduct, Hill held dual roles as both the school’s head teacher and CEO of the then-single academy trust.
As such, any complaints about Hill would have had to be directed to the board of trustees, the body tasked with school oversight.
The women told the BBC they feared that Hill would have been aware of any complaints made about him.
Scott Lyons, Norfolk branch secretary of the National Education Union, criticised the single academy model, stating it left staff unprotected.
He pointed out that head teachers who also act as CEOs can wield power without sufficient oversight.
“Somebody that knows the system...
can very quickly shut down any challenge,” he said.
The Department for Education said school staff should feel secure in their workplaces and noted that concerns about leadership could be raised internally, through unions, or directly with the department.
Ms Gidman, now back in Australia, said she chose to speak out because the current complaint systems need reform.
A spokesperson for EMAT said the trust undertook an urgent review of safeguarding, whistleblowing, and complaints procedures after taking over leadership from Hill.
They expressed outrage at the allegations and praised the courage of those who came forward.
Video link of Gregory Hill's arrest - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_w00uC-hGPc
