Claimant fails in judicial review over SEND Review consultation and information on available remedies for tribunal in disability discrimination cases – Local Government Lawyer

‘The High Court has rejected a judicial review challenge brought on behalf of a 12-year-old boy with special educational needs to one of the 22 consultation questions contained in the SEND Review, the Government’s consultation Green Paper.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 26th March 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Strip searches: Watchdog urges police to be ‘proportionate’ with children – BBC News

Posted March 20th, 2024 in children, investigatory powers, news, police, proportionality, school children by sally

‘Police officers strip-searching children should ensure they act in a sensitive and proportionate way, a watchdog has said.’

Full Story

BBC News, 19th March 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Head teacher sacked for tapping own child’s hand with fingers wins tribunal case – The Independent

‘An experienced primary school head teacher sacked for assault after tapping her own son’s hand to stop him playing with a bottle of hand sanitiser was unfairly dismissed, an employment tribunal has ruled.’

Full Story

The Independent, 9th March 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Fines for unauthorised absence from school in England to rise by 33% – The Guardian

Posted February 29th, 2024 in fines, news, school children, truancy by sally

‘Taking an unauthorised family holiday is about to get more expensive, with the government announcing that fines for children in England missing school are to rise by 33%.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 29th February 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Teachers in England could face ban for failing to report evidence of sexual abuse of children – The Guardian

‘Teachers in England face being banned if they fail to report evidence of children being subjected to sexual abuse under plans for new legislation announced by the home secretary, James Cleverly.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 21st February 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Judge dismisses challenge to planning permission for school redevelopment amid noise concerns – Local Government Lawyer

Posted January 19th, 2024 in judicial review, local government, news, noise, planning, school children by sally

‘Residents who claimed councillors at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea were given “significantly misleading” advice from a planning officer before approving planning permission for the redevelopment of a site for a school have failed in a judicial review bid of the decision.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 18th January 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Supreme Court refuses permission to appeal rejection of vicarious liability claim against school over abuse by work placement individual – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Supreme Court has refused a claimant permission to appeal over the Court of Appeal’s dismissal of her claim that a school was vicariously liable for sexual abuse by an individual who had undertaken a work experience placement.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 18th January 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Top London school taken to high court over prayer ban – The Guardian

Posted January 17th, 2024 in equality, human rights, judicial review, news, school children, teachers by sally

‘One of England’s highest performing state schools, famed for its top results, strict discipline code and charismatic headteacher, has been challenged in the high court for its policy of banning prayer rituals on school premises.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 16th January 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Derby City Council to pay compensation over SEND student delays – BBC News

‘Derby City Council has been ordered to pay thousands in compensation after it took too long to arrange alternative education for a special needs student.’

Full Story

BBC News, 14th January 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Serial killer obsessed fake policeman who planned mass shooting jailed for life – The Independent

‘A Lidl worker who dressed as a fake policeman with a plan to attack police headquarters, who plotted to shoot former teachers and ex-schoolmates, has been jailed for life.’

Full Story

The Independent, 13th January 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Schools in England ‘face legal risks if they follow new transgender guidance’ – The Guardian

‘Schools in England could face legal action if they follow new guidance on how to treat transgender children, ministers’ own lawyers have reportedly warned.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 20th December 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Teachers in England won’t have to inform parents if pupils ask about gender – The Independent

Posted December 19th, 2023 in equality, news, notification, school children, teachers, transgender persons by sally

‘Teachers in England will not be made to inform parents if pupils come to them with questions about gender identity under new government guidance due to be published this week.’

Full Story

The Independent, 18th December 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

High Court grants permission for legal challenge over lack of legal aid for school exclusion appeals – Local Government Lawyer

‘The High Court has granted permission for a claimant to challenge the lack of legal aid for appeals before an Independent Review Panel (IRP), the independent body that reviews the lawfulness of permanent exclusions.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 29th November 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Ministers ‘drop plans’ to ban pupils changing gender but teachers won’t have to use pupils’ preferred pronouns – The Independent

Posted November 28th, 2023 in names, news, school children, teachers, transgender persons by sally

‘Ministers have dropped plans to ban pupils from changing their gender identity in schools after being warned it would be illegal, it has been revealed.’

Full Story

The Independent, 28th November 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Inquiry says Ofsted viewed as ‘not fit for purpose’ – The Independent

Posted November 20th, 2023 in education, inquiries, news, ombudsmen, school children, teachers by sally

‘Ofsted is in need of major reform and is seen as “not fit for purpose” according to an inquiry into the education inspectorate for England. The Beyond Ofsted inquiry called for “transformational change” and said it found Ofsted as “having a detrimental impact on schools which some perceive as toxic”.’

Full Story

The Independent, 20th November 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

How should schools and colleges investigate allegations of sexual assault against its staff? – Local Government Lawyer

‘Investigating allegations against staff is one of the most challenging issues for schools and colleges. Some lessons can be learned from a recent case, writes Joanne Moseley.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 10th November 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Vicarious liability for abuse – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Can a school be vicariously liable for abuse perpetrated against a pupil by an adult on work experience? The Court of Appeal addressed this question in the above case and, unusually, overturned some of the findings of fact of the trial judge.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 1st November 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

MXX v A Secondary School [2023] EWCA Civ 996 – 3PB

‘In the ever-increasing cases concerning grooming/abuse, the Court of Appeal’s decision provides helpful guidance in the context of work experience employment and vicarious liability.’

Full Story

3PB, 5th September 2023

Source: www.3pb.co.uk

Berrow Wood: The abusive school where boys were just a number – BBC News

‘Nine former members of staff at a school for boys with behavioural difficulties have now been convicted of physically and sexually abusing pupils over four decades. The BBC spoke to 10 survivors of the defunct Berrow Wood School about their ordeals, with questions remaining over how the abuse was able to continue for so long.’

Full Story

BBC News, 3rd October 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Berrow Wood: Man jailed for 27 years for boarding school abuse – BBC News

‘A predatory paedophile responsible for a “campaign of rape against children” has been jailed for 27 years for abusing boys at a boarding school.’

Full Story

BBC News, 3rd October 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk