Employment law support for individuals working in the education sector

Our Education team is experienced in supporting academics, professors, teachers and support staff with their employment concerns.

Employment advice for teachers, professors and lecturers

If you have a problem at work then we’re here to help. Our team is experienced in supporting and advising employees who are facing issues including:

• Allegations of misconduct or gross misconduct that could lead to dismissal
• Being discriminated against by their employer or colleagues
• Being placed at risk of redundancy
• Allegations of poor performance
• Feelings of being mistreated and undervalued
• Being transferred to another employer under TUPE transfers
• Potential professional misconduct proceedings
• Being offered a settlement agreement

We can advise you on your concerns, no matter how big or small, and explain your employment rights and options so you can decide how to proceed. This might involve bringing a formal grievance against your employer, contacting ACAS, lodging a claim in the Employment Tribunal, making a data subject access request and/or discussing possible settlement. We’re here to support you every step of the way and our goal is to achieve the best possible outcome for you.

Recent Work - Advising teachers, lecturers and professors 

Some examples of the kinds of cases we’ve been working on recently include:

• Advising five emanate Professors at Oxford University – campaigning to change the University’s internal statutes which impose a mandatory retirement age – both internally and at the employment tribunal.  Simon has had three letters published in the Times on the issue – and has recently received his first instruction for a Professor at Cambridge to challenge its statutes.
• Challenging a discriminatory retirement policy from appealing the university’s decision to retire the employee, to bringing a claim for age discrimination in the Employment Tribunal
• The fairness of a redundancy process and negotiating a favourable settlement package
• Bringing a claim in the Employment Tribunal for unfair and wrongful dismissal, following an unfair investigation into the professor’s conduct leading to him being dismissed for gross misconduct
• Unfounded allegations of gross misconduct brought against a teacher with severe mental health difficulties, including the claims she could bring against the college

Why use Doyle Clayton?

As well as offering timely and practical legal advice that is tailored to your unique situation and needs, we believe that the following sets us apart from other law firms:

• We act for both individuals and education institutions in the education sector. This provides us with a unique and invaluable insight into each side’s perspective and concerns, which many solicitors do not have.
• High quality service that is recognised in The Legal 500. Our team of specialist education solicitors is ranked in the top tier by The Legal 500 for its work for individuals in the education sector. Our Head of Education, Simon Henthorn, is also ranked as a Leading Individual as a recommended lawyer in the education sector.
• We are education law specialists. Our education team supports many different educational institutions with their legal, HR and compliance issues, so we understand the sector and its challenges.

Our Team

The team is lead by Simon Henthorn. He is well known for his work in the education sector, and recommended by Chambers Guide to the UK Legal Profession for being “very easy to deal with” and “very knowledgeable”. Simon is a governor of St Stephen’s School in Twickenham.

To get in touch with Simon Henthorn please email him at shenthorn@doyleclayton.co.uk or call him on +44 (0)20 3696 7172.

Testimonials

Don’t just take our word for it! Here are some examples of recent feedback from The Legal 500 and from our clients:

• "The education team at Doyle Clayton are true specialists in employment matters in the education sector, and they understand how education law interacts with the employment of academics and teachers. In my opinion, they are the go-to firm for professors, lecturers, and headteachers with employment disputes."
• "Doyle Clayton's impressive' education practice is singled out for its dual employment and education law expertise, and its ability to offer clients comprehensive advice on safeguarding, pastoral care issues and dismissals. The team is led by Simon Henthorn, who has over 15 years of experience in the sector, and is praised for 'cutting through the 'bluster' and bringing 'common sense to where it is lacking.' The group handles sensitive matters for headteachers, senior staff, and schools."
• "Simon Henthorn, the Head of the Education team, is unparalleled. He knows the education sector like the back of his hand, he has a good strategic mind for a case and he is excellent with clients. He radiates decency and inspires confidence. I worked with him on a very complex case involving a client with significant health needs, and he went above and beyond for the client.
• ‘Simon Henthorn has invaluable experience of working with both institutions and individuals which can be leveraged to his client’s advantage. Very strategic and commercial, while always offering a helpful ear.’