A kitchen porter yesterday made allegations of racism against former colleagues at an £8,000-a-term prep school, an employment tribunal heard.

Gazmir Dema claims he was branded a “terrorist” and “gypsy” at The Dragon School in Oxford, whose former pupils include actor Hugh Laurie, Harry Potter star Emma Watson and former tennis player Tim Henman.

The 30-year-old said that during his three-and-a-half-year employment at the school he was spoken to like an animal and made to feel different from his colleagues.

Mr Dema, of Charlbury, claimed that he was bullied and victimised by catering department manager Chris Palmer and head chef Robert Hubbard before he was dismissed from his position in February last year.

The father-of-two gave evidence at an employment tribunal where he is suing the school for racial discrimination and unfair dismissal.

Mr Dema told the tribunal that in a clash with fellow kitchen porter Victor Goodwin he claimed his home country of Albania was disparaged.

“I was being called ‘a gypsy’ by Victor,” said Mr Dema. “I was called this lots of times and it was not until I asked my wife what a gypsy was that I realised it was not a compliment.

In an argument with another porter, he was labelled an “Albanian terrorist”, he claimed at the tribunal in Reading.

Asked by tribunal judge Robin Lewis if he felt he was treated differently because he was Albanian, Mr Dema replied: “Yes, absolutely.”

Mr Palmer said any alleged racist slurs were unfounded.

The case was expected to conclude today.