Andrew Denholm Education Correspondent STAFF at secondary schools across Scotland are routinely bullied by headteachers and deputy heads, a teachers' conference will hear today.

Andrew Denholm Education Correspondent STAFF at secondary schools across Scotland are routinely bullied by headteachers and deputy heads, a teachers' conference will hear today.

Ann Ballinger, president of the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association (SSTA), will tell the union's annual conference in Peebles that "far too many" teachers are now subject to intimidation from management.

She maintains that in six local authorities in Scotland bullying is "endemic" but believes there are schools in every council area which experience bullying.

"Some schools have a management system based entirely on bullying and, should a member of staff be daft enough to question a decision made, have no hesitation in crushing that teacher beneath the collective boot," she is expected to tell delegates.

"Since bullies tend to be appointed by bullies, there is frequently little to be gained by approaching the local authority and the only possible remedy is legal action.

"How many of us are aware of a case against a bully which has collapsed because colleagues who could support the victim are unwilling, or perhaps unable, to raise their heads above the parapet?"

Ms Ballinger will call for all teachers to have the right to work in a workplace free from bullying and harassment and with the protection of employment rights.

"In demanding these rights, we have to also accept our responsibilities - the responsibility to protect more-vulnerable colleagues, to object to situations which are clearly detrimental to ourselves, colleagues and pupils and, above all, to insist we have the right to be listened to and our advice acted on," she will say.

However, Bill McGregor, general secretary of the Headteachers' Association of Scotland, strongly rejected the claims.

He said: "We deeply regret the comments made, which we do not feel are representative of Scotland's secondary schools.

We would not support any levels of bullying, whether among pupils, staff or the local authority directorate.

"If the SSTA has particular examples of bullying that are being ignored, then these should be brought to the attention of the local authority concerned."

John Stodter, general secretary of the Association of Directors of Education, also denied there was widespread bullying in schools.

"Ten years ago you could have made this accusation but I have seen no evidence for that approach now," he said.

"Over the past five years, local authorities have become much more alert to the issue and all work closely with teaching unions to encourage reporting of these incidents. If the only course of action is legal action then there would be something very wrong."

And Cosla, which represents local authorities, described the comments as "outrageous".

"Her comments are simply not true. Every council has well-articulated routes and crystal-clear procedures for any alleged complaints of any nature from all staff but particularly about bullying because councils treat it with such a high priority," said a spokesman.

"These claims are groundless and the false scenario being alleged here about multiple cases of bullying, people being too scared to speak out and implications of cover-ups and conspiracies are practically libellous."

Ms Ballinger will go on to attack what she describes as a growing tendency of local authorities to pander to unacceptable demands from parents about the "rights" of their children.

"An increasing amount of time is taken up in schools dealing with pupils who have rights and with their parents who demand action against teachers depriving their little angel' of his or her rights," she will say.

Over the course of the two-day conference, delegates will hear concerns about a lack of information and direction from Scottish governments in leading the ongoing reform of the curriculum - known as the Curriculum for Excellence.

Motions are also critical of recent proposals to scrap Standard Grade exams and introduce literacy and numeracy tests for all pupils in S4.