THE wife of a deputy headteacher who was unfairly dismissed has been told by education watchdogs they will take her husband's case into account when issuing a report on a local education authority.

Gill Hetherington wrote to the Government's Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted), asking it to consider her husband, Geoff's, case when they reviewed the performance of Darlington Borough Council. She is angry that the council, as the local education authority, failed to take action after Mr Hetherington said he was victimised by Gill Wray, the headteacher of Redmarshall and Bishopton Primary School, near Darlington.

Mr Hetherington, who lives at Norton, near Stockton, Teesside, eventually went on sick leave and was diagnosed as suffering from depression and stress.

He was then dismissed because of medical incapacity, but he took the council to an industrial tribunal and won his case for unfair dismissal and breach of contract.

Mr Hetherington has recently returned to work on a relief basis.

But his wife still blames Darlington council for causing his illness.

The dossier she sent to Ofsted, which is inspecting Darlington local education authority includes transcripts from the tribunal and letters from a parent governor which resulted in the Hetheringtons calling in the police.

Geoff Pennington, director of education for the council, said last month that Ofsted "would not accept unsolicited mail from individuals".

But Ofsted has written to Mrs Hetherington informing her that her evidence will be used to "help us inform our judgement".

Mrs Hetherington said: "I am over the moon that they are going to take Geoff's case into account.

Mr Hetherington was awarded £15,142 compensation from Darlington council in the tribunal verdict.

His experience led Mrs Hetherington to set up a website offering support at: