THE family of a Prestwich teacher who hanged herself a day before the start of a new school term were not told she had been granted leave from her mental health ward.

The inquest into the death of Caroline Jane Bailey heard that the ‘gifted’ 46-year-old educator had walked free from Fairfield Hospital on September 2, 2012, before being found hanged in Castle Hill Quarry.

Her family were unaware that the Broad Oak Sports College head of humanities was being granted unescorted leave from the facility.

Coroner, Simon Nelson, also heard evidence from nursing staff that a sheet recording key details about her absence was incomplete and there was confusion with what information should be imparted to the police in the hours after her departure.

Husband Neal Connor welcomed further evidence from nurses that procedures at the hospital had since been tightened.

He was critical of Broad Oak, where Mr Connor said Caroline had endured "strategic bullying" and had twice refused her in-house counselling.

“From the family’s point of view we would like to say the following: We hope Caroline's school, where she taught for 23 years, reflect on the way they dealt with Caroline during her illness and seriously give consideration to any actions they could have taken so as to prevent any repeat of this tragic incident,” he said.

“We were pleased to be told by the hospital during the inquest that they have extensively reviewed and significantly modified their policies and procedures and have learned lessons from their actions leading to Caroline leaving the ward and ultimately taking her own life.”

Mr Connor earlier told the inquest: “There were a few issues with a member of staff at work. In my opinion it was a form of strategic bullying. She was aware that a person had been promoted to above her position.

“She came out with comments like ‘I’m stupid’ and ‘I have nothing’.”

Caroline, of Scotts Road, had previously stabbed herself in the neck on two occasions and connected a hose to her car exhaust pipe, before taking her own life.

She had worked at Broad Oak for 23 years, since 1989, before taking time off at Easter 2012 after suffering with insomnia and panic attacks.

Mr Connor added: “Caroline was a wonderful, gorgeous and caring person who will be eternally missed by her parents, children, husband and friends.”

Speaking after the inquest Stephen Brecken, headteacher at Broad Oak Sports College, said: “Although I did not know Caroline personally, I know that she was a highly valued and well respected teacher and all members of the Broad Oak community were shocked to hear of her death at the time.

“Staff, pupils and parents paid their own personal and collective respects to Caroline in September 2012, and we continue to offer our sympathies, thoughts and prayers to all of Caroline's family and friends at what is an extremely difficult time.

“At Broad Oak Sports College we strive to support all our staff and take their welfare extremely seriously.

“General enquiries about school management were made by Caroline’s partner after her death, and these were fully investigated by the chair of governors at the time.

“No concerns about the school’s management were identified, and Caroline was treated no differently than other members of staff both in her employment and when she was unwell and not in work.”