A teacher at a private school has successfully won his case for unfair dismissal after he was sacked over a Covid mask-related incident and a school trip oversight.

Henry Howlett, a teacher at Michael Hall School, an independent Steiner school in East Sussex, was accused of gross misconduct for allowing his students to remove their face masks during a talent show in 2020.

The Mask Controversy

The trouble began during the school’s talent show, which took place in the midst of the pandemic.

Due to Covid restrictions, students were required to wear masks during the event.

However, Howlett allowed his students to take them off if they felt anxious or uncomfortable.

This decision was based on his concern for the well-being of his pupils.

Some students followed his advice, leading to outrage from certain staff members, who questioned his actions.

During a subsequent meeting, Howlett dismissed the matter as not being urgent or a safeguarding issue.

He was later suspended and faced a disciplinary hearing.

The school alleged that his actions were a violation of safety protocols, but Howlett argued that he had only acted in the best interest of the students’ mental health.

The School Trip Issue

In addition to the mask issue, Howlett was also accused of taking students on a school trip without ensuring proper consent forms were signed.

The school, which charges up to £5,750 per term, had recently introduced a new system for obtaining parental consent for trips.

However, the system was found to be unreliable, and Howlett was unaware that some students had missing consent forms.

Although the school’s health and safety manager raised concerns, Howlett assumed the necessary paperwork was in place after receiving an email from the senior leadership team.

Tribunal Findings

Despite the accusations, Howlett’s case was heard at an employment tribunal in South London, where the judge ruled in his favor.

The tribunal found that Howlett had been unfairly dismissed.

The judge described the dismissal as an “opportunistic” move by a school that was struggling financially and used the incidents as an excuse to let go of a teacher who had fallen out of favor with management.

The judge also pointed out that the school’s decision to fire Howlett did not reflect the school’s ethos, which is based on the educational philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, who emphasized a nurturing and supportive learning environment.

Furthermore, the tribunal highlighted that Howlett’s dismissal negatively impacted the students’ education, as they lost a teacher they were accustomed to, and they were deprived of a proper farewell.

The School’s Struggles and Management

The tribunal also explored the broader context of the school’s difficulties, including its recent struggles with leadership and its poor rating by Ofsted.

The school, which follows the holistic Steiner method, had been facing challenges under its principal, Paul Farr, who had been criticized for being unsympathetic to the school’s ethos and for creating an authoritarian atmosphere.

Howlett’s case reflected deeper tensions within the school, where a clash between the Steiner philosophy and the new leadership’s approach led to a strained work environment.

A Final Decision

Ultimately, the tribunal’s decision emphasized that the dismissal was not only unjust but also driven by financial motives.

Judge Denis Harley stated that the school was seeking to cut costs and used Howlett’s actions as a pretext to remove a teacher who was unpopular with the administration.

Howlett’s victory serves as a reminder of the importance of fair treatment in the workplace and the need for transparency and consistency in disciplinary actions.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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