The headteacher of an Isleworth school is a 'serial workplace bully' who made staff physically sick, a tribunal has heard.

The extraordinary claim was made against Pam Butterfield, who has spent more than a decade in charge at the Green School for Girls, by her former bursar.

Diane Harcourt, of Aplin Way, Isleworth, told an employment tribunal in Croydon the 'victimisation' was so bad she suffered insomnia, swollen joints and even nausea.

The 55-year-old was sacked in January, six months after receiving her final warning. She is claiming unfair dismissal by the school, in Busch Corner, where she worked for 14 years.

Ms Harcourt told judges at the South London Employment Tribunal how she and other staff had been forced out by Mrs Butterfield after daring to complain about her management.

On one occasion she claims she was 'severely reprimanded' and 'victimised' for pointing out her boss had claimed too much in consultancy fees.

Mrs Harcourt went on to describe her former workplace as a 'divided' school plagued by 'low morale', 'gossip' and a 'lack of communication'.

In a statement prepared for an earlier in-school hearing, one ex-teacher said Mrs Butterfield had 'bullied and harassed me to the point of breakdown', while another said he was 'destroyed by this woman and her appalling management of what was an outstanding school'.

However, Mrs Butterfield dismissed the accusations, claiming they came from staff with an axe to grind after their dismissals.

She told judges how Mrs Harcourt had failed to carry out her duties as a member of the school's 'Senior Leadership Team'.

"She (Mrs Harcourt) would leave school as soon as she could even if this meant walking out of meetings before they were finished," she said. "She also struggled with the complexities of her role as she hadn't come from a teaching background."

Damian McCarthy, representing the school, said it was 'absurd' to claim all the governors who gave evidence in favour of Mrs Butterfield had conspired with the head against Mrs Harcourt.

"It is clear that there was a breakdown in trust and confidence between the parties and that this is the real reason for dismissal," he added.

The two-week hearing ended on Monday and a ruling is expected in about a month.