Kate Williams

A TRIBUNAL judge has ruled that management of a children’s hospital school unfairly sacked a senior teacher following a “retaliatory action” for “protected” union rep activities.

Employment Judge Davidson published a devastating judgment upholding Kate Williams’ trade union victimisation claims against her employers, The Children’s School at Great Ormond Street and University College Hospital.

The school’s management has lodged an appeal – but the judge has suggested the school is unlikely to win any further legal actions.

Ms Williams spoke to the New Journal about the impact of the strike on children’s education and her own mental health.

She also spoke about how she drew inspiration from her daughter, Ruby, who led a high-profile campaign in 2020 against her school that sent her home because of the size of her afro hair.

Mr Williams said: “What the judgment says to me is that I am absolutely and utterly cleared – and that I am the one who has been victimised. “It has been a horrible ride that I felt like I couldn’t get off. I’ve spoken at so many events and people in the union often say how proud they are that you have had so many strike days.

“But it’s not amazing. I feel ashamed for our children to have been affected by this for so long. But I did everything I could to stop this happening. I’ve also realised that if you don’t stand up to these things, everyone just gets pushed around.”

She added: “It shows also that there is a safety net in society. But we shouldn’t have to go to extreme lengths to find that net.”

The “outstanding”-rated school is for sick children who would otherwise be missing out on education due to long stays on the wards.

Ms Williams had been at the school for 14 years when she was suspended, along with three colleagues, for organising “a ballot and meeting” about a new management regime despite officially being the school’s union rep.

The judgment, part of an “interim relief” claim, said comments made by Ms Williams were “not well received” and led to “a fact-finding mission” that was “illustrative of a trawl to find anything that could be alleged against the claimant”.

This was “retaliatory action” that was “in response to trade union activities” and against someone “acting in her capacity as a Trade Union representative engaging with HR about work concerns raised by members”, the judgment said.

“In conclusion I find that the reasons for dismissal were the comments made by the claimant in the course of carrying out trade union activities and are therefore protected. The comments were ill-judged but not wholly unreasonable.”

Ms Williams said it would be difficult to return to her teacher role but that “focusing on the families and children would get me through this”.

“The job keeps you grounded and humble,” she said.

“Yes it’s been a big problem for me, but nothing compared to what those families are going through.”

Ms Williams has spoken about the impact on her mental health from the ordeal and that the school had been aware that she had been struggling at the time of her suspension.

She said had gone through a period of depression in the fallout from a racial discrimination campaign by her daughter, Ruby, against her school in Hackney.

The pupil had been sent home multiple times for her afro hair being an “unreasonable length”.

The campaign triggered protests from pupils in schools across the country and ended up changing education policy.

Ms Williams said: “In that case we had a black girl being told she had to go home because of her hair, when all these other girls with their long flowing golden locks were fine. There was an emotional cost to my daughter and me. It was painful and damaging to everyone really. But she ended up changing national policy. Throughout this strike, I thought to myself ‘if she can still be at school after that, then so can I.’”

Megan Quinn, Camden NEU Branch Secretary, said: “Camden NEU have significant concerns regarding the lack of intervention by the council. The governing body continue to act chaotically and inappropriately and this in turn continues to cause detriment to our members and the vulnerable children they are so committed to.”

The Hospital School governing body said it would not comment due to its appeal.