Teacher axed for being too old

A teacher who was made redundant because she was "too old" at 53 was awarded £47,000 by an industrial tribunal.

Barbara Staff lost her job after governors decided on cost-saving redundancies. But shortly afterwards, the school employed another teacher on the same salary scale for four days a week.

After the tribunal judgment, Mrs Staff, from Garstang, near Preston, said: "It is important that teachers with many years of service are retained in our profession, not simply viewed as disposable. I'm not a combative person, but it is necessary to fight injustice. The judgment gives a very clear message that employment rights exist."

Dominic Murphy, 57, also believes he was a victim of ageism after he sent off 200 job applications without receiving a single interview.

"I was made redundant from my management job in the IT industry in 2002," he said. "A year later, I had still not had a single interview despite all the applications. In the end, I started phoning people directly.

"Eventually, I found exciting work at Wandsworth Prison teaching people through a college, using the skills that I had developed over a lifetime.

"When I was looking for work, I was never given a reason why I had been unsuccessful. I cannot think of any other reason for not getting a single interview other than my age. I was qualified for the jobs I applied for."