Witch gets payout in school row

10:14pm Thursday 3rd May 2007

A white witch who claimed she was sacked from her job at a school after pupils found out about her religion has settled her case out of court.

Sommer De La Rosa, 34, took legal action after losing her post as a teaching assistant at Dorothy Stringer School, in Brighton.

She told an employment tribunal she was shocked and upset by the attitude shown to her by the school, in Loder Road, and claimed compensation.

During a three-day hearing in March, the tribunal heard how Ms De La Rosa, of Moyne Close, Hove, worked in the religious studies and music department at the school for eight months until May last year.

She claimed she was banned from discussing her religion and from wearing a necklace with a pentagram - a symbol of her Wiccan faith.

And she told the tribunal: "They made me feel like a freak and that my beliefs were wrong."

Ms De La Rosa denied offering to cast a spell at the school and claimed her confidence had been shattered by the way she was treated and her health had suffered.

The school and Brighton and Hove City Council denied discriminating against Ms De La Rosa on the grounds of her religion.

Education bosses maintained she was sacked for her poor attendance. She had 21.5 days off during her six-month probationary period.

The school also asserted she had made inappropriate disclosures to students.

The tribunal had been adjourned until tomorrow when the evidence was due to continue. However, the parties have reached a settlement and the claim has been formally withdrawn.

Details of the settlement have not been revealed.

In a joint statement, Ms De La Rosa, the city council and the school stated: "The parties confirm the issues in dispute between them have now been settled. The details of the settlement are confidential. The parties wish to take this opportunity to express their regret that the working relationship ended as it did and it was necessary to proceed to employment tribunal.

"The parties are pleased that the matter has now been satisfactorily resolved."

Neither the city council or Ms De La Rosa would make any further comment about the case or the settlement.

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