Education

The work we do:

COVID-19 is having a profound effect on the education sector and raising numerous legal issues. Please see our dedicated COVID-19 hub for our barristers’ latest commentary and articles. For further information on COVID-19 or education issues please contact our clerks on 0207 269 0300.

Our specialist practitioners regularly act in cases spanning the education sector and our members are able to draw on their in-depth knowledge from complementary areas of law, including employment and discrimination, administrative and public law, and professional discipline.

We are able to advise and litigate on education law issues at all stages of a dispute in relation to maintained and independent schools, and all other educational institutions.

We appear in all courts, tribunals and domestic panels in which education law issues arise. We have particular expertise in appeals to the First-Tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability – SEND Tribunal) concerning statements of special education needs and education-related disability discrimination claims. We also handle Upper Tribunal appeals arising from decisions of the SEND Tribunal.

We are also developing a growing reputation for advising on safeguarding and child protection issues. We act for a variety of institutions, including universities and independent schools, and have conducted numerous independent investigations into these issues.

Our expertise extends to the following areas:

Discrimination claims in the Employment Tribunal and Employment Appeal Tribunal, including disability, sex, religion, race and age;
County Court claims including disability discrimination, human rights, equalities claims and public sector equality duty;
Judicial review;
Special education needs disputes;
Professional discipline: NCTL (National College of Teaching and Leadership) in England and the EWC (Education Workforce Council) in Wales, internal disciplinary hearings and other regulatory matters;
Examination disputes;
Admissions and exclusions;
School governance and finance;
School inspection, registration, LA intervention;
Safeguarding and child protection;
Negligence claims;
Data protection;
Pensions.

Who we act for: