On Friday 3 July, Kate Williams – dismissed NEU rep at the centre of the long running dispute at The Hospital School at GOSH and UCLH – was awarded Interim Relief by the judge presiding over her hearing.
The decision made by Judge Davidson, at the Interim Relief Hearing, has meant that the Board of Governors at The Hospital School at GOSH and UCLH have been instructed to reinstate Kate paying her full salary until her full Employment Tribunal is heard.
Kate Williams was dismissed by her employer in March 2026 following a disciplinary hearing overseen by Camden HR. Her dismissal followed her suspension from the workplace, 8-months earlier, in July 2025, after she raised concerns about chaotic and bullying management. Prior to her suspension, Kate had taught at the specialist setting for nearly 15 years with an unblemished record.
Three senior staff remain suspended after also attempting to raise concerns and for their trade union activity. The Deputy and two Assistant Heads – who have a combined 30 years of service at the setting - have been suspended from the workplace since 24 October 2025. This was the day after Camden NEU submitted a collective grievance on behalf of 15 of their members.
The school has lost approximately a combined 100 years of specialist hospital school experience through resignations, dismissals, and suspensions since a new headteacher took post in September 2024.
Staff have described a workplace marked by fear and distress, with reports of employees being reduced to tears. Concerns have also been raised about staff members being placed on zero-days sickness absence targets, prompting fears over staff wellbeing and patient safety in a hospital environment particularly with regards to infection control.
Having spent several months raising concerns to the Board of Governors and Camden Council, Kate and her colleagues are hopeful that finally the shift they need may be coming.
Despite the reinstatement of Kate Williams, the dispute at Great Ormand Street Hospital continues as the collective grievance remains unaddressed, three members remain suspended and a culture of fear and bullying remains in the setting.
Further strike dates are in place for 10 and 13 July.
Megan Quinn, Camden NEU branch secretary, said:
‘This is an unprecedented level of trade union victimisation in a Camden school. The striking NEU members: longstanding, highly committed teachers, have raised the alarm over bullying and unsafe practices in the schools since the arrival of a new head teacher in 2024. The children and staff are being severely let down by the school governors and Camden Council, who have failed to intervene. Camden NEU urges the Board of Governors and Camden Council to engage urgently with the NEU in ACAS talks to reach a much needed and long overdue resolution.’
Daniel Kebede, NEU general secretary, said:
“Instead of listening to experienced teachers who provide care and outstanding education to some of the country’s most vulnerable children, the new leadership has sought to silence them and target union members. We will not tolerate any attacks on trade union representatives, and we will defend them to the end.”
Commenting on the outcome of Friday 3 July hearing, Kate Williams said: “I'm still in shock but I feel like such a weight has been lifted off me. For the judge to read about my experiences and find in my favour, feels like my life has completely changed for the better.”
Editor’s Note
Following Kate Williams’ dismissal in March 2026, NEU members at the setting secured a new 12-month mandate for strike action. The teachers at a London Hospital School voted overwhelmingly for continued strike action with 89 per cent of NEU members at The Hospital School at GOSH and UCLH voting yes in a formal ballot. 86 per cent of members returned their vote.
Eight months after it was submitted, NEU members have yet to receive the outcome of their collective grievance, and five individual grievances also remain unresolved. Being investigated alongside the collective grievance is a complaint – submitted by Camden NEU - about the Board of Governors, who are the employer, at The Hospital School.