Teacher who was sacked for standing by paedophile headmaster husband wins wrongful dismissal case

Sarah Pendleton was described as an 'exemplary' teacher

Mrs Pendleton was described as having an 'exemplary' teaching record at Glebe Junior School in South Normanton, Derbyshire (Google Maps)

A primary school teacher who was sacked for standing by her husband, a headmaster convicted of child abuse, has won compensation for wrongful dismissal.

Sarah Pendleton said her Christian beliefs prevented her from leaving her husband after he was found guilty.

Matthew Pendleton, the former Headmaster of Kirkstead Junior School, was given a 10-month prison sentence in July 2013 for secretly filming young boys getting changed for swimming lessons.

After 12 years of "exemplary" service, Ms Pendleton was dismissed by Glebe Junior School in South Normanton in Derbyshire in August 2013.

There has been no suggestion she knew about her husband's activities before he was arrested, the Derby Telegraph reports.

An Employment Appeal Tribunal heard how she told the school's governors her vows of marriage as "sacrosanct, having being made with God", adding she would stay with him as long as he showed "unequivocal repentance".

The governors responded by saying her continued support of her husband could be seen as "condoning his behaviour".

The Tribunal upheld her claim of religious discrimination awarding her the right to thousands of pounds of compensation.

Mrs Pendleton was faced with "a crisis of conscience" and forced to choose between ending her career or relinquishing her marriage vows, the presiding judge said.

Judge Jennifer Eady QC said the decision to sack Ms Pendleton was "outside the band of reasonable responses" with the governors not adequately considering alternatives to dismissing her.