The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has handed down its decision in St Andrew's Catholic School v Blundell. The case concerned the victimisation of a teacher over a four month period, culminating in her dismissal. The Tribunal awarded £22,000 injury to feelings, £5,000 aggravated damages, five years loss of future earnings, and recommended the School send a letter to all parents and teachers stating that the headmistress accepted that all criticism of Ms Blundell’s teaching ability was unfounded.
Ms Blundell’s awards were significant. On appeal the Tribunal reduced the injury to feeling award in line with previous case law, and made interesting comments about the Tribunal’s recommendation to send a letter to all parents. In particular it:
- reduced compensation for injury to feelings to £14,000, making comments on mid- to upper-range payments;
- upheld the aggravated damages award on the basis of the manner in which the School conducted the remedies hearing, criticising Ms Blundell’s teaching ability, contrary to the evidence presented at the liability hearing;
- upheld the award in principle of 5 years future loss of earnings; and,
- held that the terms of the Tribunal's recommendation should be amended so as not to require the headmistress to make statements with which she does not agree.