School Uniform Policies and Indirect Discrimination under the Equality Act 2010 – Monckton Chambers

‘Khatija Hafesji looks at the legal action threatened against Muslim parents in relation to their daughter’s breach of school uniform policy.’

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Monckton Chambers, 13th January 2021

Source: www.monckton.com

Council wins appeal over finding of negligence over personal injuries suffered by teaching assistant – Local Government Lawyer

‘A county council has won an appeal over a ruling that it was liable in negligence for personal injuries suffered by a teaching assistant.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 4th January 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Eton teacher jailed for sex offences against pupils – BBC News

‘A former Eton College teacher has been jailed for five years for a string of sexual offences against pupils during “nocturnal” visits to their bedrooms.’

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BBC News, 17th December 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Pupils’ historical abuse at London schools claims total £1m – BBC News

Posted December 18th, 2020 in child abuse, children, compensation, news, school children, victims, violence by sally

‘Nearly £1m in compensation has been paid to dozens of former students at two London private schools following historical allegations of abuse.’

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BBC News, 17th December 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Coronavirus: Greenwich Council told ‘keep schools open’ – BBC News

Posted December 15th, 2020 in coronavirus, local government, London, news, regulations, school children by tracey

‘The government has told a London council it must keep schools open or face legal action.’

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BBC News, 15th December 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

It was “none of your business”, High Court judge tells council which refused to take part in mediation over EHC Plan because mother wanted to bring her lawyer – Local Government Lawyer

‘A mother was entitled to bring a lawyer to support her at a mediation of her dispute with Hillingdon Council about her son’s Education, Health and Care Plan and the local authority was in breach of its statutory duties by refusing to participate, a High Court judge has ruled.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 7th December 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Ombudsman criticises council after cancellation of transport sees teenager with autism miss start of term – Local Government Lawyer

‘A council has agreed to pay more than £2,400 in compensation after an investigation from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman into the termination of a child’s transport to school.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 4th December 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Is there a different burden of proof in relation to misconduct cases in which there is a possibility that an employee who works with children may pose a danger? No, says the EAT in K v L UKEAT/0014/18/JW – 3PB

‘The Claimant had been employed by the respondents for 20 years as a teacher. On 30th December 2016 the Police entered his property having been granted a warrant to search for and seize computers in the possession of the Claimant. The warrant was based on intelligence that indecent images of a child or children had been downloaded to an IP address associated with the Claimant. The Claimant lived at the address with his son. One of the computers was found to have data that was of interest to the Police.’

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3PB, 2nd October 2020

Source: www.3pb.co.uk

Free School Meals and Governmental Responsibility — Dr Kirsteen Shields – UK Human Rights Blog

‘Questions around government responsibility for food systems, churning away during the Brexit debates, long ignored, sometimes derided, are meeting stark realities in the coronavirus pandemic. This week we are back to free school meals (FSM).’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 22nd October 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Teaching assistant found guilty of sending topless pictures to 15-year-old pupil – Daily Telegraph

‘A jury at Aylesbury Crown Court found her guilty of two sex offence charges relating to the topless pictures and a video, but they have not yet reached verdicts on three more serious charges of causing or inciting a child aged under 16 to engage in a sexual act.’

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Daily Telegraph, 15th September 2020

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Grammar school discriminated against visually impaired child, tribunal finds – The Guardian

‘Grammar schools in England will have to ensure their 11-plus entrance exams are accessible to disabled pupils, after a legal ruling found a visually impaired child suffered discrimination when he was refused the opportunity to take the exam.’

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The Guardian, 9th September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

GCSE results: Key Q&As for Students and Schools – 3PB

Posted August 28th, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, education, examinations, news, school children by sally

‘This year is a year like no other. Students have found out how they performed in exams they did not even sit. The Department for Education (“DfE”) changed its approach in a major U-turn five days after the A Level results were released.’

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3PB, 20th August 2020

Source: www.3pb.co.uk

A-level student launches legal bid against Ofqual – The Guardian

‘An A-level student has launched a legal bid against the exams regulator Ofqual to “force them to come up with a fairer system”.’

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The Guardian, 16th August 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

A-level results: ‘Huge mess’ as exams appeal guidance withdrawn – BBC News

‘The exams regulator is reviewing its guidance on how to appeal against A-level and GCSE grades using mock exam results – hours after publishing it.’

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BBC News, 16th August 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

A-level Students Consider Legal Action Over Downgrade ‘Discrimination’ – Each Other

‘The government could face legal action over the mass downgrading of A-level results in England, with affected students saying they feel discriminated against over their school’s track-record.’

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Each Other, 13th August 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk

Pontypridd: £37m school shake-up scrapped by judicial review – BBC News

Posted July 31st, 2020 in education, judicial review, news, school children, Wales by sally

‘A £37m schools reorganisation in the south Wales valleys has been quashed after a judicial review.’

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BBC News, 30th July 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Upper Tribunal rejects appeal by county council over naming of school for child with special educational needs – Local Government Lawyer

‘Worcestershire County Council has lost an Upper Tribunal case over which school a child with special educational needs should attend.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 30th July 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Council to review decision-making process and reimburse mother after boy left without suitable education for second time – Local Government Lawyer

‘Norfolk County Council has agreed to review its decision-making process and internal communications in relation to its special educational needs services, and provide its People and Communities select committee with regular updates on its performance, following a critical report from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 2nd July 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Fines for school non-attendance in England to resume from autumn – The Guardian

Posted June 30th, 2020 in coronavirus, fines, news, parental responsibility, school children, truancy by sally

‘Parents in England who fail to send their children back to school in September will face fines unless they have a good reason for them not attending, the education secretary has said.’

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The Guardian, 29th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Against natural justice’: father to sue exams regulator over A-level grades system – The Guardian

‘Fears Ofqual’s Covid-19 method of adjusting marks in line with a school’s prior performance will penalise bright pupils.’

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The Guardian, 20th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com