Contracts of employment: Promise of promotion was not contractually binding

A deputy headteacher's verbal assurances that a teacher's temporary promotion would be made permanent had no contractually binding effect, holds the EAT in Puntis v The Governing Body of Isambard Brunel Junior School 8.10.96 EAT 1101/95. There was no evidence that the parties had intended to enter into a contractual relationship on the basis of their conversations, there had been no "offer and acceptance" for the purposes of contract law, and no "consideration" from the teacher had supported the deputy head's assurances. In any event, the deputy head had no authority to enter into a contract which would bind the school governors.