A LECTURER is to receive £7,700 in an out-of-court settlement after alleging she was unfairly dismissed by Accrington and Rossendale College.

Annette Malpass, a senior lecturer in business management, was due before an industrial tribunal at which she would have argued that the college's procedure for selecting her for redundancy was unfair.

The college said it "strenuously" denied the allegation but that in view of the costs involved in time and legal advice, it was in the interests of the college for the case to be settled out of court.

The settlement for Mrs Malpass, who lives in Nelson, was made with the help of ACAS. In May an industrial tribunal decided unanimously that the college had unfairly dismissed one of Mrs Malpass's colleagues, Barbara Stott, of Haslingden, who was made redundant at the same time.

Since then it has made a £27,000 private settlement with senior lecturer Pat Walsh who alleged unfair dismissal.

Mrs Malpass, who is now working in industry, was represented by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers.

ATL's national casework officer, Jim Munnery, who helped her prepare her case, said: "This is yet a further indication of this college management's inability to adopt fair practices in these circumstances or to treat their staff fairly."

College principal Mike Austin said it was in the interests of the college for the case to be settled in that way.

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