Judge rules London private school discriminated against a father sacked over childcare hours while female staff left EARLY

Kensington Park School directly discriminated against Director of Studies Frederick Lechmere-Smith when it sacked him for failing to work strict 8am-to-6pm hours around his childcare, an employment tribunal has ruled. Lechmere-Smith had warned before signing that his childcare hours made full days impossible and was told the arrangement was 'not set in stone'.

Acting head Ben Tan admitted he had decided to sack him just eight days after the hours letter.

Dismissal letter cited no specific failing and never mentioned any right of appeal.

Deputy head Elizabeth Emerton's name was deleted from a staff survey, the judge inferred, to make him seem the sole target.