In 2010 a nurse, sacked from a leading public school after smacking her son in her own home, lost her claim for unfair dismissal. She lost her job as the senior nurse at the school after her teenage son called the police when she smacked his younger brother for swearing.
Although she was investigated by police who found no evidence of wrongdoing, two of her children were placed on the local social services child protection register after the incident. The school said that the fact that her own children were on the register gave them grounds to question whether she was suitable to be in a position of such responsibility with vulnerable young people. It also said that it could not risk the damage to its reputation if parents learnt about her situation.
An Employment Tribunal found against her. The panel rejected her claim that there had not been an adequate investigation into the matter and that the school had not had grounds to dismiss her.
The school welcomed the decision, saying, "The principal priority for the school has always been the welfare of its pupils and at no time has this been compromised. The tribunal has accepted that at all times the school sought, and heeded, advice from experts in the field of child protection and acted in accordance with the policies and procedures set out in the Government's Safeguarding Children directives."
