Teachers Strike Again Over Sacked Colleague at Great Ormond Street Hospital School

Teachers at the Children’s Hospital School, which serves patients at Great Ormond Street Hospital, have commenced further strike action. The industrial action is a response to a tribunal order mandating the reinstatement of a colleague, Kate Williams, who was dismissed in March 2026.

Tribunal Ruling and Appeal

Kate Williams, who had been employed at the school for nearly 15 years, was dismissed for alleged gross misconduct. However, an employment judge ruled in July that the school's governing body must reinstate her with full pay pending a complete employment tribunal hearing. Despite this interim relief, the governing body has lodged an appeal against the reinstatement order. This move has led to renewed strike action by staff who claim Williams is being victimised by management.

Williams told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that the situation was difficult, stating, "It's such a rollercoaster. I should be grateful of getting paid, but I’d rather be doing my job." She added that no clear explanation had been provided for her alleged misconduct. The National Education Union (NEU) has supported the strike, describing the situation as union victimisation. The union previously reported that a significant majority of its members attributed workplace stress to the management style at the school.

Calls for Intervention

On October 6, dozens of NEU protesters picketed Camden Town Hall. They urged the local authority to intervene in the dispute. While the hospital school has been under the direction of Camden Local Education Authority since 1990, its legal oversight rests with its governing body. A Camden Council spokesperson stated that the council is working with the school, the governing body, and the union to find a way forward. The council's priority, they said, is the wellbeing of pupils and staff and minimising disruption to learning.

The LDRS reported that the Hospital School had not responded to requests for comment. In April, the governing body had stated that all matters were being investigated thoroughly, independently, and fairly.