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June 27, 2025
Closures of educational sites
The Court of Appeal recently refused permission to appeal in judicial review proceedings concerning the decision to close part of a school site. Leon Glenister and Edward-Arash Abedian look at the reasons why.
Jun 25, 2025
How do you deal with conflicts of belief in schools and colleges?
To what extent can you lawfully restrict how your staff manifest their protected beliefs? Jo Moseley considers what schools and colleges can learn from a recent case where a tribunal had to determine whether a teacher, who objected to the school's decision to socially transition an eight-year-old pupil, had been unfairly dismissed and subjected to direct discrimination because of her beliefs.
Jun 18, 2025
VAT on school fees and its impact on the SEND system: an emerging pressure point
Lauren Fullerton and Arran Dowling-Hussey look at the impact of the Government’s imposition of VAT on school fees has had on the SEND system.
Jun 18, 2025
One teacher, two jobs
Alexandra Addington looks at a recent disciplinary hearing concerning a teacher who phoned in sick to work at a different school, and considers what steps schools and colleges can take if they suspect a staff member of moonlighting.
May 21, 2025
How do you protect your staff from parental aggression and abuse?
Teachers often choose their profession driven by a desire to positively shape and inspire future generations. However, they are increasingly encountering abuse from parents, both in person and online. Alexandra Addington looks at the legal options for addressing the issue.
May 09, 2025
What the Supreme Court’s ruling on ‘sex’ means for schools and colleges
Schools and colleges should adopt a careful approach when making changes to policies and practices in response to the recent landmark Supreme Court ruling on the interpretation of the Equality Act 2010, write Jean Boyle and Clare Wigzell.
Apr 23, 2025
Honouring the Armed Forces Covenant
Geoff Wild examines the purpose of the Armed Forces Covenant and offers suggestions as to how local authorities can put it into practice.
Webinars
Public Sector Insights – Disability discrimination in education
Trish D’Souza, a Legal Director in the Education sector, and Jo Corbett-Simmons, a Legal Director in our Commercial Litigation team, delivered a session for schools, local authorities and academy trusts on Disability discrimination – how to recognise potential claims.
More features
Apr 16, 2025
Schools and claims by pupils for victimisation
A school has successfully defended a claim for victimisation brought by a sixth former. Susanna Bennett explains how.
Apr 16, 2025
Extra curricular programmes of education and residential placements
Martha Glynn and James Dix set out the key points from a recent Upper Tribunal decision on whether a young person should have a waking-day curriculum and a residential placement.
Apr 15, 2025
What next for SEND law ?
Lauren Fullerton and Arran Dowling-Hussey look at what will happen next for SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) law.
Apr 15, 2025
Pupil behaviour and disability discrimination
Holly Littlewood considers the “reverse” burden of proof in claims for discrimination arising from disability under section 15 Equality Act 2010.
Apr 15, 2025
How schools should manage PFI contract expiry
Michael Winder offers his top tips to schools and local authorities for how to manage PFI contract expiries.
Apr 15, 2025
Handling novel, contentious and repercussive transactions
The Department for Education has issued guidance published on novel, contentious and repercussive transactions. Katharine Robinson sets out the key points for colleges and academy trusts.
Apr 15, 2025
Staff misconduct and employment policies
Alexandra Addington looks at the lessons to be learned from a recent Court of Appeal ruling that without a 'no touching' policy it was unfair to dismiss an Ofsted inspector for brushing rain off pupil.
Apr 11, 2025
The cost of free childcare
Siân McGibbon summarises an important recent High Court judgment considering the lawfulness of imposing mandatory “top-up” charges on parents accessing free early years education.
Mar 14, 2025
Teacher dismissed for 'safeguarding' concerns: lessons to learn from school who made mistakes at every stage
Alexandra Addington considers the mistakes a school made after it dismissed a long-standing member of staff following two safeguarding incidents.
Mar 14, 2025
Understanding Section 19 of the Education Act 1996
Joe Orme-Paul and Sophie Orger look at the issues for schools and academies around the duty in section 19 of the Education Act 1996.
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