The Supreme Court yesterday refused permission for either Haringey Borough Council or the Secretary of State to appeal against the Court of Appeal’s decision in Shoesmith v OFSTED and others [2011] EWCA Civ 642. The Court of Appeal declared that the Secretary of State’s directions, insofar as they purported to remove Ms Shoesmith from her position as Haringey’s Director of Children’s Services, were unlawful and, further, that Haringey’s decision to dismiss Ms Shoesmith was unlawful. See 11KBW’s website for further information on that decision. However, this is not the final word on the matter because the question of damages is still to be decided by the Adminstrative Court (if not agreed between the parties) and there are also other proceedings stayed pending the outcome of this case, including in the Employment Tribunal.