Marlborough College teacher hangs himself after sack

A physics teacher at Marlborough College hanged himself after being sacked for ‘inappropriate conduct’ during an exchange trip to Malaysia, the Daily Mail can reveal.

John Wright taught for a decade at the £60,000-a-year school, one of the most prestigious independents in the country which counts Kate Middleton among former pupils.

It’s understood that Mr Wright was sacked following allegations that his behaviour was inappropriate during the trip during the spring half term holiday.

The 54-year-old was found by his distraught wife Rachel at the family home in the early evening of November 3 having apparently taken his own life.

An inquest into his death opened last week at Wiltshire Coroners Court and gave his cause of death as asphyxiation with compression of the neck structures by a ligature.

The inquest was adjourned to a later date.

It’s understood Mr Wright’s bereaved family are unhappy with the disciplinary experience he went through.

A source close to the family said: ‘The way John was treated was outrageous.’

Mr Wright was sacked following an annual 17-day exchange trip to the college’s sister school in the Far East called Marlborough College Malaysia in which 29 pupils from the Wiltshire school participated.

Following an internal investigation into what had happened on the Malaysia trip and disciplinary hearing he was dismissed during the summer.

This came after several allegations over his conduct during the trip were found to be proven against him.

This finding was then upheld when Mr Wright unsuccessfully appealed against the outcome.

Mr Wright lived with his wife and two children just a ten-minute walk away from the college, which is the UK’s largest co-educational boarding school attended by around 1,000 domestic and international pupils.

A source told The Daily Mail: ‘It’s not quite clear to us what John was sacked for, but it hit him really hard. We’ve heard it was for inappropriate comments, but I’ve been told that most of these were innocuous.

‘This is all part of a stricter safeguarding regime at Marlborough and staff are genuinely concerned about their careers and there is a sense of mistrust and fear amongst them. They are horrified at what’s happened because John was an outstanding physics teacher.’

The source added: ‘The speculation is that Prince George is coming to Marlborough and the College hierarchy are concerned about the damage John’s death could have on its reputation.’

Marlborough College refused to comment.

A Wiltshire Police spokesperson described the incident as ‘a sudden death’ with no suspicious circumstances.

Officers reportedly remained on scene at Mr Wright’s home for several hours but had left by around midnight.

Mr Wright’s wife is also believed to work as a teacher and according to social media, the couple previously lived in New Zealand before returning to the UK around a decade ago.

In February Mr Wright was one of a group of teachers to accompany pupils on what is known as the Shell exchange programme in which they get to experience life at Malaysia’s Marlborough College, which was established in 2012 as an offshoot of the UK Marlborough College.

Extensive details of the trip were posted on the school’s website in March apparently before the allegations against Mr Wright had surfaced.

Photos posted on the college’s website show pupils participating in a range of activities while in Malaysia and visiting nearby Singapore.

There the school party visited tourist sights including historic Fort Canning, the observation deck of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel and two ecological domes at Gardens by the Bay.

Trip leader Harriet Cox wrote that the Marlborough group had ‘stepped out of their comfort zones—whether by trying unfamiliar foods, engaging in local traditions, or taking part in outdoor adventures’

She went on: ‘Along the way, they formed meaningful friendships and gained fresh perspectives on the world. These unforgettable memories and experiences will undoubtedly stay with them for years to come.’

But there is no mention of Mr Wright on the school’s web pages.

The Princess of Wales boarded at Marlborough College between 1996 and 2000 before studying at St Andrews university where she met and fell in love with Prince William.

There has long been speculation that Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Princess Louise are also being lined up to attend their mother’s alma mater.

The college is located in the heart of the historic market town of Marlborough and charges fees of close to £60,000 per year.

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