A HEADTEACHER found dead at her Worcestershire school questioned why she had taken the job at the end of her first day.

Mother-of-two Helen Mann told her husband Philip that Sytchampton First Endowed School was "a mess" after returning home from her first day in the role last April.

The inquest, in Strouport, also heard the 43-year-old had taken an overdose of sleeping tablets just days before she was found dead at the school on November 5 last year.

Colleagues said she had taken on too much too soon and was troubled by a forthcoming employment tribunal.

Mr Mann told the inquest she had doubts as to whether she should have taken the post.

"She came home after her first day and said 'why the hell did you let me take the job'?" he said.

"She was not impressed by the staff.

"The tribunal was what we talked about most. Helen took it as though it was her fault but it wasn't."

He said the family went on holiday to France during the summer break but added Mrs Mann did not come back refreshed.

"She took her laptop with her," he said. "I was fed up of telling her not to do school work."

He said his wife overdosed on sleeping pills on October 19, adding soon after she was keen to return to work from sickleave.

The night before she died she asked him to hug her.

"We sat there for a couple of hours," he added.

"I didn't click until a few days after how significant it was."

The hearing continues.


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