School leaders’ union NAHT Cymru has written to Conwy County Borough Couincil threatening the authority with legal action if it refuses to reinstate a head teacher who won an appeal against their dismissal.

NAHT Cymru says an appeals panel upheld its member’s appeal in July after the council issued them with a notice of compulsory redundancy amid amalgamations of schools.

The appeals panel determined that the head teacher’s dismissal was not justified, and that they therefore remained entitled to their post.

However, the council has refused to reinstate them.

Laura Doel, NAHT Cymru’s national secretary, said: “This headteacher has been put through Hell and has done nothing wrong. 

“The repercussions have been devastating, losing a job they loved through no fault of their own.

“We had urged the council to halt the process and seek legal advice, but they ignored us and carried on. 

“It is wholly unlawful and procedurally unfair for the authority, as the employer of record, to disregard or refuse to implement the decision of the appeals panel.

“To do so not only undermines the statutory framework, but exposes the authority to claims of unfair dismissal, breach of contract, and breach of statutory duty.

“With more school amalgamations planned by this council in the coming months, we want to ensure no other head teachers are treated this way.”

Ms Doel added that failure to comply with the appeals panel decision would leave NAHT with no alternative but to begin appropriate legal proceedings.

The union’s letter to Conwy County Borough Council’s chief executive calls for the local authority to reinstate the headteacher to their substantive post with immediate effect, and to reimburse all unpaid salary and benefits since their dismissal with compound interest.