R Phullar v Ofsted

R Phullar v Ofsted

The Tribunal's decision was fundamentally flawed due to application of the wrong legal test under section 15 Equality Act 2010, insufficient fact-finding, and failure to provide adequate reasons for its conclusions on reasonable adjustments and unfair dismissal. The appeal and cross-appeal succeeded, and the case was remitted for a fresh hearing before a differently constituted tribunal.

Parties
Appellant/cross Respondent: Ms R Phullar; Respondent/cross Appellant: OFSTED
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
14 January 2026
Procedural Posture
Employment Appeal / Judgment on Appeal and Cross Appeal
Outcome
Appeal and cross-appeal allowed; original Tribunal decision set aside; case remitted for fresh hearing before a new tribunal.
Legal Topics
Unfair Dismissal, Disability Discrimination, Reasonable Adjustments, Section 15 Equality Act 2010, Section 20 Equality Act 2010
Employment Law Equality Law Unfair Dismissal Disability Discrimination Reasonable Adjustments Section 15 Equality Act 2010 Section 20 Equality Act 2010

Case Brief

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

More case intelligence is available

Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.

Full judgment text Downloadable case file Legal principles 5 Authorities cited 14 Party arguments 2
Sign in to unlock

Parties

Ms R Phullar

Appellant/cross Respondent

OFSTED

Respondent/cross Appellant

Procedural Posture

Employment Appeal / Judgment on Appeal and Cross Appeal

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the Employment Tribunal applied the correct legal test under section 15 Equality Act 2010
  2. 2 Whether the Tribunal's findings on reasonable adjustments were Meek-compliant and/or perverse
  3. 3 Whether the Tribunal's decision on unfair dismissal was adequately reasoned and lawful

Ratio Decidendi

The Tribunal's decision was fundamentally flawed due to application of the wrong legal test under section 15 Equality Act 2010, insufficient fact-finding, and failure to provide adequate reasons for its conclusions on reasonable adjustments and unfair dismissal. The appeal and cross-appeal succeeded, and the case was remitted for a fresh hearing before a differently constituted tribunal.

Court Disposition

Appeal and cross-appeal allowed; original Tribunal decision set aside; case remitted for fresh hearing before a new tribunal.

Orders

  • The decisions on unfair dismissal, section 15 Equality Act 2010 discrimination, and all reasonable adjustment complaints are set aside.
  • The case is remitted for fresh adjudication before a differently constituted tribunal.