WorkDisputes Logo
Sector Report

Education Tribunal Data Analysis

Employment Tribunal decisions and outcome patterns in the Education sector from the last 12 months.

233Cases Analysed (Last 12 Months)

Final Education decisions with at least one determined claim.

27%Success Factor

Proportion of cases won or split/upheld in our database.

73%Dismissal Rate

Cases lost or struck out due to procedural/jurisdictional issues.

↑ Strongest IndicatorRedundancy Pay (76% Success)
↓ Weakest IndicatorHarassment (8% Success)

Search by Claim Type

Unfair DismissalConstructive DismissalDiscriminationRedundancy PayUnpaid WagesWhistleblowingBreach of ContractHarassment

Showing 17 cases from the last 2 months.

Employers in recent Education decisions

Browse the latest published decisions for employers represented in this sector sample.

LIFE Multi Academy TrustMichael Hall SchoolWest Thames CollegeUniversity of KentLEAD Academy TrustKew CollegeFoxwood AcademyLift SchoolsMrs L M B Weston and Simply English EdinburghCambridge Students’ UnionUniversity of StrathclydeUniversity of Salford
23 Sept 2026
Mixed outcome

Discrimination and Harassment

The Tribunal found that the respondent discriminated against the claimant in relation to the sending of a letter of 15 December 2022, but dismissed all other claims of discrimination, harassment, and victimisation, resulting in a split overall outcome with remedy reserved.

Legal Issues (10)
  • Disability discrimination under sections 15
  • 20-21
  • 26
  • 27 of the Equality Act 2010
  • constructive knowledge of disability
  • proportionality
  • reasonable adjustments
  • harassment
  • victimisation
  • causation and influence of protected acts

Reference: 2600754/2023

23 Sept 2026
Claim struck out

Unfair Dismissal and Breach of Contract

Both claims were struck out because the claimant had not been dismissed at the time of presenting her claim, making the complaints unsustainable from the outset.

Legal Issues (3)
  • Jurisdictional requirement for an unfair dismissal claim under section 95 of the Employment Rights Act 1996
  • jurisdictional requirement for a breach of contract claim under the Employment Tribunals Extension of Jurisdiction (England and Wales) Order 1994
  • strike-out for a defect that cannot be cured by subsequent events

Reference: 6041470/2025

19 Sept 2026
Mixed outcome

Discrimination, Unpaid Wages, Whistleblowing and Other

The Tribunal finally struck out the wages and Agency Workers Regulations claims and refused the whistleblowing amendment, while the direct discrimination claim remains outstanding, producing a partial final outcome.

Legal Issues (5)
  • Amendment to add a section 48(1A) protected-disclosure detriment claim
  • amendment of direct discrimination particulars under section 13 of the Equality Act 2010
  • strike-out under rule 38(1)(a) of the Employment Tribunal Procedure Rules 2024 for no reasonable prospect of success
  • unauthorised deductions from wages under section 23 of the Employment Rights Act 1996
  • Agency Workers Regulations 2010 regulations 13 and 17

Reference: 6019268/2025

11 Sept 2026
Mixed outcome

Discrimination and Whistleblowing

The tribunal partially struck out some whistleblowing and victimisation claims for non-compliance, while leaving other claims pending.

Legal Issues (3)
  • Strike out for non-compliance with tribunal orders
  • deposit order
  • time limits

Reference: 6018012/2024

10 Sept 2026
Claim dismissed

Unfair Dismissal and Discrimination

All claims were dismissed: unfair dismissal and disability discrimination claims were out of time, and the sex discrimination claim was withdrawn.

Legal Issues (3)
  • Time limits for presenting claims (reasonably practicable test for unfair dismissal; just and equitable extension for discrimination)
  • withdrawal of claim
  • amendment applications

Reference: 2601031/2025

6 Sept 2026
Mixed outcome

Unfair Dismissal, Discrimination, Unpaid Wages, Whistleblowing and Harassment

The tribunal dismissed the unfair dismissal, notice pay, arrears of pay and public interest disclosure detriment claims as out of time, but allowed the race discrimination and harassment claims to proceed to a final hearing.

Legal Issues (3)
  • Late presentation of claims
  • whether it is just and equitable to extend time for discrimination claims
  • jurisdiction to hear out-of-time claims

Reference: 6019888/2025

5 Sept 2026
Claim dismissed

Unfair Dismissal

The tribunal dismissed the claim of unfair dismissal because the claimant was not constructively dismissed, as there was no repudiatory breach of the implied term of trust and confidence.

Legal Issues (5)
  • Constructive dismissal
  • repudiatory breach of the implied term of mutual trust and confidence
  • affirmation of contract
  • the test for unfair dismissal under sections 94
  • 95 and 98 of the Employment Rights Act 1996

Reference: 6017157/2025

4 Sept 2026
Claim dismissed

Discrimination

All discrimination complaints were dismissed as not well-founded.

Legal Issues (4)
  • Pregnancy/maternity discrimination (s.18 EqA)
  • direct disability discrimination (s.13 EqA)
  • discrimination arising from disability (s.15 EqA)
  • failure to make reasonable adjustments (ss.20-21 EqA)

Reference: 6001406/2025

1 Sept 2026
Mixed outcome£5,297.50 awarded

Unfair Dismissal, Redundancy Pay, Unpaid Wages and Breach of Contract

The claimant succeeded in her claims for unpaid wages and holiday pay, but her claims for unfair dismissal, redundancy and breach of contract were withdrawn and dismissed.

Legal Issues (2)
  • Unauthorised deduction from wages under section 13 of the Employment Rights Act 1996
  • entitlement to payment for accrued but untaken annual leave under the Working Time Regulations 1998

Reference: 8001649/2025

28 Aug 2026
Mixed outcome

Discrimination, Harassment and Other

The claimant succeeded on one harassment claim but all other claims (direct discrimination, remaining harassment, and victimisation) were dismissed, resulting in a split overall outcome.

Legal Issues (9)
  • Direct discrimination (race)
  • harassment (race)
  • victimisation under the Equality Act 2010
  • time limits under section 123 and 140
  • conduct extending over a period
  • just and equitable extension
  • burden of proof
  • detriment
  • protected acts

Reference: 6008215/2024

27 Aug 2026
Dismissed on jurisdiction

Discrimination

The Employment Tribunal dismissed the claim because it had no jurisdiction, as the claim falls under Part 6 (Education) of the Equality Act 2010 and must be brought in the Sheriff Court.

Legal Issues (6)
  • Whether the Employment Tribunal has jurisdiction to hear a disability discrimination claim brought by a student against a university
  • where the claim relates to the provision of education and vocational training. The key legal points are: (1) the distinction between Part 5 (Work) and Part 6 (Education) of the Equality Act 2010
  • (2) the effect of section 54(4)(c) and section 56(5) EqA
  • which exclude universities from being treated as qualifications bodies or employment service providers in respect of their educational functions
  • (3) the application of Nwabueze v University of Law and Blackwood v Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
  • (4) whether the claimant could be considered a worker under section 83(2)(a) EqA

Reference: 8000711/2025

25 Aug 2026
Mixed outcome

Unfair Dismissal, Unpaid Wages, Whistleblowing and Breach of Contract

The breach of contract claim was struck out due to the claimant's scandalous, unreasonable and vexatious conduct, non-compliance with orders, and the impossibility of a fair hearing; the remaining claims were not struck out but made subject to an unless order.

Legal Issues (8)
  • Strike-out under Employment Tribunal Rules 2024 Rule 38(1)(b)-(e)
  • whether conduct was scandalous
  • unreasonable or vexatious
  • whether a fair trial was possible
  • proportionality of strike-out
  • unless orders
  • reconsideration under Rules 68-70
  • overriding objective

Reference: 6011717/2024

24 Aug 2026
Claim dismissed

Discrimination, Harassment and Other

All complaints of direct race discrimination, harassment and victimisation were dismissed as not well-founded after a full merits hearing.

Legal Issues (3)
  • Direct race discrimination (section 13 Equality Act 2010)
  • harassment related to race (section 26)
  • victimisation (section 27). The Tribunal also considered time limits under section 123

Reference: 2303059/2023

21 Aug 2026
Claim dismissed

Unfair Dismissal

Claimants failed to prove they were employees under s.230 ERA, so their unfair dismissal claims were dismissed.

Legal Issues (7)
  • Employee status under s.230 Employment Rights Act 1996
  • mutuality of obligation
  • control
  • personal service
  • application to amend claims
  • adjournment application
  • balance of prejudice

Reference: 1800620/2025

21 Aug 2026
Claim dismissed

Unfair Dismissal, Constructive Dismissal, Discrimination, Unpaid Wages, Whistleblowing and Breach of Contract

All claims were either withdrawn by the claimant or dismissed on their merits or for being presented outside the applicable time limits.

Legal Issues (3)
  • Time limits for whistleblowing and discrimination claims
  • constructive dismissal
  • withdrawal of claims

Reference: 2305778/2024

20 Aug 2026
Claim dismissed

Other

The claimant withdrew his claim, it was dismissed on withdrawal, and the reconsideration application was refused because there was no reasonable prospect of the judgment being varied or revoked in the interests of justice.

Legal Issues (5)
  • Reconsideration under Employment Tribunals Rules of Procedure 2024 rule 70(2)
  • whether dismissal on withdrawal should be varied or revoked
  • reasonable adjustments for hearing format
  • alleged pressure to withdraw
  • treatment of witness statements

Reference: 2304621/2024

18 Aug 2026
Claim dismissed

Unfair Dismissal, Discrimination, Breach of Contract and Other

The claimant materially breached the unless order prohibiting direct contact with the respondent, and the tribunal declined to set aside the order, resulting in the automatic dismissal of all claims.

Legal Issues (7)
  • Unless order
  • material breach
  • relief from sanction
  • overriding objective
  • autistic spectrum disorder as mitigating factor
  • deliberate non-compliance
  • strike out for procedural default

Reference: 1603466/2025