Acting for North Kent College in defending an employee’s claim of discrimination

North Kent College provides education to 4,500 students across two main campuses in Dartford and Gravesend. Our employment team has acted for them and advised them on various employment matters.

In 2016, a former lecturer brought a claim against the College on alleged grounds of pregnancy and maternity discrimination, indirect sex discrimination, direct sex discrimination, harassment and constructive dismissal. The team advised the College to defend the proceedings on the clear basis that the claimant lacked evidence to support her claims and that the College could justify requiring lecturers to abide by strict timetables given the government’s changes to funding for higher and further education colleges.

The matter was fully contested and went all the way to a final hearing. As a result of the legal arguments we put forward and the strength of the College’s evidence, the tribunal dismissed each of the claimant’s claims.