Ms Tamsin Little v Consortium Trust — 2025

The tribunal found that Ms Tamsin Little was employed by Consortium Trust as Director of Education from 18 April 2017 until 31 August 2024. It rejected the constructive dismissal claim brought under section 95(1)(c) ERA 1996. The claimant had raised concerns about Ms Dawn Carman-Jones from June 2023, and the tribunal accepted there was an informal grievance, but found the informal stage was not sufficiently documented and that the formal grievance process was then followed, with Mrs Sarah Conant appointed to deal with it.

Applying Malik v Bank of Credit and Commerce International SA and RDF Media Group plc v Clements, the tribunal held there was reasonable and proper cause for the respondent's conduct and that nothing done by the respondent was calculated or likely to destroy or seriously damage trust and confidence. It found that the claimant's 'last straw' case failed because Ms Carman-Jones had resigned on 5 June 2024, the claimant had been offered a new role, and the possibility that Ms Carman-Jones might return did not amount to a fundamental breach. The constructive dismissal claim was dismissed.

On the redundancy complaint, the tribunal accepted that the claimant was dismissed by reason of redundancy after she elected for voluntary redundancy on 16 July 2024 and accepted the respondent's offer letter on 18 July 2024, with termination effective on 31 August 2024. It found the redundancy was genuine, arising from a £1.5 million cost-reduction requirement identified by the School Resource Management Advisor and a reorganisation of senior roles.

The tribunal held that the redundancy process was fair under section 98(4) ERA 1996. It found that the claimant and the NAHT were aware of the process from June 2024, that the claimant was able to engage with it despite being on sick leave, that the two-week timetable was reasonable in the circumstances, and that the new Director of Primary Education role was suitable alternative employment which she was offered on 16 July 2024. The ordinary unfair dismissal claim was therefore dismissed.