Inquiry condemns school that barred A-level pupils – The Guardian

Posted July 11th, 2018 in examinations, inquiries, news, school exclusions by tracey

‘An independent inquiry into a top grammar school, which was revealed by a Guardian investigation to be forcing out pupils who were unlikely to get top grades at A-level, has delivered a damning report accusing the school of illegally treating its students as “collateral damage” in the pursuit of its own interests.’

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The Guardian, 10th July 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Trainee barristers told they will be marked down for wearing short skirts – The Guardian

Posted April 17th, 2018 in barristers, examinations, freedom of expression, news, universities by tracey

‘Trainee barristers are being told they will be docked points in their exams if they wear short skirts, colourful socks or “kinky boots”. A handbook at the BPP university law school warns students that they may lose points if they do not adopt an extremely conservative dress code in their advocacy assessments.’

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The Guardian, 16th April 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Barrister who lied about LLM and death penalty experience to gain pupillage disbarred – Legal Futures

‘A barrister has been disbarred for lying about her qualifications and experience, including a claim that she had saved 10 men from the death penalty in Malawi.’

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Legal Futures, 1st March 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Oxford University not at fault for graduate’s 2:1 as he may have ‘simply coasted’, judge rules – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 8th, 2018 in examinations, news, universities by tracey

‘Oxford University was not at fault for a graduate’s 2:1 degree as he may have “simply coasted”, a judge has ruled.’

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Daily Telegraph, 7th February 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Court comes down hard on fake certificate sellers – Technology Law Update

Posted September 28th, 2017 in examinations, fraud, news by sally

‘Students hoping to secure places in higher education or with employers will want to put their best foot forward with a sheaf of hard-won qualifications. But fake certificates sold online are an increasing problem. Now the body representing the main UK examination boards, the Joint Council for Qualifications or JCQ, has won an important court victory against the fraudsters, sending a strong message to others making money from this illicit trade.’

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Technology Law Update, 27th September 2017

Source: www.technology-law-blog.co.uk

Calls for inquiry into grammar school that ‘unlawfully’ excluded students – The Guardian

Posted September 5th, 2017 in education, examinations, news, school exclusions by sally

‘Parents and former governors at a leading grammar school found to be systematically excluding pupils halfway through their A-level studies say there needs to be a full inquiry in order to restore confidence in the school.’

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The Guardian, 4th September 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Exam leak allegations trigger Ofqual review of rules – The Guardian

Posted September 1st, 2017 in disclosure, examinations, news, teachers by sally

‘England’s exams watchdog has announced a review of rules allowing teachers to set question papers, in the wake of allegations of exam leaks at public schools first revealed in the Guardian.’

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The Guardian, 31st August 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

More London sixth-form schools face threat of legal cases for exclusion – The Guardian

Posted September 1st, 2017 in complaints, examinations, London, news, school exclusions by sally

‘Lawyers acting for families who claim their children have been illegally excluded from St Olave’s grammar school are considering launching proceedings against a number of other London schools after being contacted by parents.’

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The Guardian, 31st August 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Leading grammar school ‘unlawfully’ excludes pupils for failing to get top grades – Daily Telegraph

‘A group of sixth form pupils have hired lawyers to take on one of the country’s leading grammar schools for throwing them out when they failed to achieve top grades.’

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Daily Telegraph, 29th August 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Uber to appeal against English tests for drivers – BBC News

Posted June 28th, 2017 in appeals, examinations, London, news, taxis by sally

‘The introduction of an English language test for private hire drivers has been delayed after Uber won the right to appeal against the plans.’

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BBC News, 28th June 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

“Massive memory test” preventing Bar students from understanding ethical values – Legal Futures

‘Bar students are struggling to understand ethical values because of the “massive memory test” awaiting them in the examination room, a senior lecturer has claimed.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd June 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Government lawyers discriminated against autistic student with training contract test, EAT rules – Legal Futures

Posted May 8th, 2017 in autism, disability discrimination, examinations, news by sally

‘The Government Legal Service (GLS) discriminated against a law graduate with Asperger’s Syndrome by refusing to make reasonable adjustments when she took a test that forms part of the application process for training contracts, the Employment Appeal Tribunal has found.’

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Legal Futures, 8th May 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Super exam reaction: Profession calls for ‘clarity’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted April 26th, 2017 in examinations, news, solicitors, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

‘The profession has given a mixed response to the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s plans to introduce a single qualifying assessment for would-be solicitors and called on the regulator to ensure the new regime maintains high standards.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 25th April 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

SRA to introduce Solicitors Qualifying Examination in 2020 – Local Government Lawyer

Posted April 26th, 2017 in examinations, news, solicitors, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority is to press ahead with the introduction of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), which will replace the current system of qualification in September 2020.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 25th April 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Student accused of ETS fraud found to have been unlawfully detained – Free Movement

Posted March 15th, 2017 in detention, examinations, fraud, immigration, judicial review, news, notification by tracey

‘In R (on the application of Iqbal) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2017] EWHC 79 (Admin) the Secretary of State for the Home Department (SSHD) was found to have unlawfully detained a claimant whom they had alleged had fraudulently obtained an Educational Test Service (ETS) certificate to show that he spoke English to the level required for his immigration application.’

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Free Movement, 15th March 2017

Source: www.freemovement.org.uk

Uber loses legal test case over language – BBC News

Posted March 3rd, 2017 in examinations, licensing, news, taxis by tracey

‘Uber has lost its attempt to prevent its drivers being forced to take English language tests.’

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BBC News, 3rd March 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Regulator urged to rethink bar training reforms – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 26th, 2017 in barristers, consultations, examinations, legal education, news by tracey

‘The Bar Council has criticised Bar Standards Board proposals for alternative ways of qualifying, claiming its consultation into future training at the bar misses a ‘long-awaited opportunity for reform’. It also dismisses the need for a central exam along the lines of the solicitors qualifying examination.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 25th January 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Nine convicted over student visa English test plot – BBC News

Posted December 14th, 2016 in examinations, fraud, immigration, news, visas by sally

‘Nine people have been convicted of running an immigration fraud linked to English tests for foreign students.’

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BBC News, 13th December 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Aggrieved student wins right to challenge degree grade in full trial – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted December 9th, 2016 in education, examinations, negligence, news, universities by sally

‘This case raises the interesting question of whether a disappointed graduate may call upon the courts to redress a grievance concerning the grade he was given for his degree; not just what his ground of claim should be, but whether this is the kind of grievance which should be navigated through the courts at all. There are some matters which are arguably non-justiciable matters of academic judgment.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 9th December 2016

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Return of passport by Home Office to sit Secure English Language Test – Free Movement

Posted September 23rd, 2016 in examinations, immigration, news, passports by sally

‘The Home Office has confirmed that where it holds the passport of a migrant who wishes to sit the Secure English Language Test (SELT) it will either return the passport to enable the migrant to sit the SELT or will confirm directly with the SELT centre that the passport is held and is genuine.’

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Free Movement, 23rd September 2016

Source: www.freemovement.org.uk