Councils mount legal challenge over academies cuts – BBC News

“A group of English local authorities are mounting a legal challenge against government budget cuts tied to its academies expansion programme.”

Full story

BBC News, 3rd May 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Public will be ‘barred’ from justice in legal aid reform, warn lawyer group – Daily Telegraph

“The public will be effectively barred from fighting incompetent doctors and councils in the courts under plans to cut legal aid, the body representing lawyers warned yesterday.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 21st April 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Regina (Parent Governors of the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School) v Archbishop of Westminster and another – WLR Daily

Regina (Parent Governors of the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School) v Archbishop of Westminster and another [2011] EWCA Civ 433; [2011] WLR (D) 142

“The Archbishop of Westminster had an unfettered discretion to appoint who he wished as a foundation governor of a Roman Catholic school in his diocese provided the School Governance (Constitution) (England) Regulations 2007 were complied with, and that included appointing his diocesan director of education as a governor at the school. The requirement in regulation 18 that two of the foundation governors should at the time of their appointment be eligible for election or appointment as parent governors was fulfilled by the presence on the existing governing body of two foundation governors who had been so eligible when they were appointed.”

WLR Daily, 14th April 2011

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Please note that once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Judge attacks ‘deplorable’ row over top Catholic school – Daily Telegraph

“A judge today condemned a ‘deplorable’ legal dispute between church leaders and parents over control of a top Roman Catholic comprehensive.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 14th April 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Government outlines overhaul of student visas – UK Border Agency

“Tougher entrance criteria, limits on work entitlements and the closure of the post-study work route are among the changes to the student visa system announced today by Home Secretary Theresa May.”

Full story

UK Border Agency, 22nd March 2011

Source: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk

Regina (RO) v East Riding of Yorkshire Council (Secretary of State for Education intervening) – WLR Daily

Regina (RO) v East Riding of Yorkshire Council (Secretary of State for Education intervening) [2011] EWCA Civ 196; [2011] WLR (D) 69

“A child’s status as a ‘looked after child’ for the purposes of the Children Act 1989 did not come to an end when the local authority, by virtue of a statement of special educational needs under the Education Act 1996, arranged for him to be accommodated at a residential school.”

WLR Daily, 2nd March 2011

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note that once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is remoced.

Bar leaders warn of impact of tuition hikes on diversity – Legal Week

“Leading figures at the Bar including former Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer, Bar council chairman Nicholas Green QC and chair of the Bar Standards Board Baroness Ruth Deech have called for the Bar to take action to improve diversity in anticipation of hikes in university tuition fees.”

Full story

Legal Week, 24th February 2011

Source: www.legalweek.com

Tuition fees: Teenagers seek human rights judicial review – The Guardian

“Two teenagers are seeking a judicial review into the government’s decision to allow university tuition fees to almost treble to up to £9,000 from next year.”

Full story

The Guardian, 24th February 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Q&A: Building Schools for the Future court case – The Guardian

“Details of the judicial review into the government’s scrapping of the school building programme.”

Full story

The Guardian, 11th February 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Gove loses court battle over cancelled school building projects – The Guardian

“A high court judge has ordered the education secretary, Michael Gove, to reconsider his decision to cancel scores of multimillion-pound school rebuilding projects.”

Full story

The Guardian, 11th February 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

LSB to quiz all lawyers on parents’ education – The Lawyer

“Lawyers will be asked to reveal where their parents attended university under far-reaching proposals by the Legal Services Board (LSB) to monitor social mobility across the profession.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 14th February 2011

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Councils defeat government over school buildings – BBC News

“The government has been defeated in the High Court over the way it scrapped part of England’s school building programme.”

Full story

BBC News, 11th February 2011

Source; www.bbc.co.uk

Bill gives heads powers to exclude violent pupils – The Guardian

“Headteachers will be given greater powers to exclude violent and aggressive pupils in a series of major school reforms published today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 27th January 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government sets out proposals for major reform of the student visa system – UK Border Agency

“Tougher entrance criteria, limits on work and an end to students staying in the UK to look for a job are just some of the changes proposed by Immigration Minister Damian Green today as part of a shake-up of the student visa system.”

Full press release

UK Border Agency,7th December 2010

Source: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk

Proportion of lawyers educated at public school far outstrips national average – The Lawyer

“The legal profession has become increasingly elitist over the past 20 years, with 15 per cent of lawyers being public school educated while just 2 per cent of the population is.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 15th November 2010

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Court victory for independent schools – The Independent

“Independent schools have won a major victory in their campaign to lift threats to their charitable status. They have succeeded in obtaining a judicial review of the way the Charity Commission has been carrying out new ‘public benefit’ tests to determine whether their charitable status is justified.”

Full story

The Independent, 8th October 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Legal action over axing of schools building scheme – BBC News

“Three councils in England have launched legal action over the government’s decision to scrap the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) initiative.”

Full story

BBC News, 5th October 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Attorney General orders review of private school charity rules – Daily Telegraph

“Controversial rules forcing private schools to offer free places to poor pupils could be scrapped after doubts were raised by the Government’s top law officer.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 30th September 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Top Roman Catholic school split by legal battle – Daily Telegraph

“Parents of children at Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School, west London, have secured a temporary injunction to stop the Roman Catholic church parachuting in new governors.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 15th September 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Regina (B) v Islington London Borough Council – WLR Daily

Regina (B) v Islington London Borough Council [2010] WLR (D) 236

“The Education Act 1996 placed no obligation on a local authority to maintain a statement of special educational needs for a young person over the age of 19 or to fund him or her to continue in secondary education.”

WLR Daily, 24th August 2010

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Lord Carlile to investigate abuse at private school – BBC News

“Lord Carlile has been asked to lead an inquiry into child protection at a Roman Catholic private school.”

Full story

BBC News, 6th August 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Local authorities threaten legal action over axed school buildings programme – The Guardian

“At least two councils are taking steps to sue the government in the high court over the cancellation of multi-million-pound contracts to build new schools, it emerged today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 5th August 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Family win school catchment spying case – The Guardian

“A family won a landmark ruling today when a council was found to have acted illegally in spying on them for nearly three weeks to discover whether they had lied about living in the catchment area of a top primary school.”

Full story

The Guardian, 2nd August 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Academies Act 2010

Academies Act 2010 published

Full text of Act (PDF)

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

Khyra Ishaq tragedy: ministers urged to tighten law on home education – The Guardian

“Ministers must urgently review the law on home education to prevent further tragedies, the independent review into the death of Khyra Ishaq recommended today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 27th July 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

MPs pass law paving way for school shake-up in England – BBC News

“MPs have approved legislation which paves the way for a radical overhaul of the school system in England.”

Full story

BBC News, 26th July 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

MPs due to vote on England academies reforms – BBC News

“MPs are due to vote on legislation which paves the way for a radical overhaul of England’s school system.”

Full story

BBC News, 26th July 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Academies Bill ‘rushed through’ claim – BBC News

“The government has been accused of rushing through legislation on its academy programme.”

Full story

BBC News, 18th July 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Abuse appeal started by Catholic Middlesbrough Diocese – BBC News

“A Catholic diocese has launched an appeal after being found liable for running a boys’ school where 150 former pupils are suing for abuse.”

Full story

BBC News, 12th July 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

English language schools win court battle over tightening of visa rules – The Guardian

“English language schools have won their high court battle against tighter visa regulations for foreign students, which they had warned would result in the loss of thousands of jobs and millions of pounds a year in foreign earnings.”

Full story

The Guardian, 9th July 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Deane v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions – WLR Daily

Deane v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2010] EWCA Civ 699; [2010] WLR (D) 162

“In determining whether a claimant seeking Carer’s Allowance was ‘receiving full-time education’, so as to be excluded, it was erroneous to ask how many hours were actually spent on the activities which were defined within the applicable Regulations.”

WLR Daily, 28th June 2010

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Academies bill is anti-democratic, lawyers warn – The Guardian

“Teachers, lawyers and parents warn today that Michael Gove’s first bill – to create thousands more academies – is ‘anti-democratic’ and concentrates the fate of the country’s schools into too few hands.”

Full story

The Guardian, 6th June 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Sats boycott prompts threat of legal challenge – Daily Telegraph

“Headteachers are facing possible legal action after pressing ahead with a planned boycott of Sats tests in England.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 21st April 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

School smacking loophole closed – BBC News

“Smacking is to be banned for anyone working with children outside the family, closing a loophole on corporal punishment, the government has said.”

Full story

BBC News, 30th March 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ministers rule out ban on BNP teachers – The Guardian

“Ministers have ruled out banning members of the British National party from the teaching profession, after an independent inquiry into racism in schools decided such a move would be disproportionate. The issue of whether those who belong to racist organisations should be prevented from teaching – as they are from working as police or prison officers – will be reviewed annually.”

Full story

The Guardian, 12th March 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

EU court ruling over migrant UK child benefit claims – BBC News

“The European Court of Justice has said some migrant families can stay in the UK and claim benefits – even if the main worker has left the country.”

Full story

BBC News, 23rd February 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Bill ‘will allow schools to teach that homosexuality is wrong’ – The Guardian

“Campaigners today accused the government of performing a U-turn over sex education in faith schools, after changes to a bill they said would allow the schools to discourage the use of contraception and teach that homosexuality is wrong.”

Full story

The Guardian, 18th February 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Attorney General: Keynote Speech – CPS National Schools Project Launch – Attorney General’s Office

“Attorney General: Keynote Speech – CPS National Schools Project Launch.”

Full speech

Attorney General’s Office, 4th February 2010

Source: www.attorneygeneral.gov.uk

Foreign student visas to be slashed, Alan Johnson announces – Daily Telegraph

“Alan Johnson, the Home Secretary, is bringing in tougher rules, including demanding that applicants be able to speak passable English and banning those enrolling for short courses from bringing dependants.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 8th February 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

English language tests for aspiring barristers as standards decline – Daily Telegraph

“Students hoping to become barristers will have to prove they are fluent in English before they are accepted into Bar school.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 1st February 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Charity Commission relaxes rules for private schools – The Guardian

“Charities will now have up to five years to meet a public benefit test that entitles them to charitable status.”

Full  story

The Guardian, 7th October 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Children denied school trips over teachers’ fears of being sued – The Guardian

“Children are being denied school trips for fear teachers will be sued if something goes wrong, despite the fact that only 156 recorded legal actions have ended in compensation in the past decade, new research reveals.”

Full story

The Guardian, 2nd October 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

QC challenges private school law – The Guardian

“New government rules forcing private schools to open up their services, including the provision of more bursaries, are unlawful, according to a leading QC who has accused the charities watchdog of ‘attacking’ fee-charging schools.”

Full story

The Guardian, 14th September 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Nurse Susan Pope sacked from school after smacking son loses appeal against dismissal – Daily Telegraph

“Susan Pope, the nurse sacked from a leading public school after smacking her son in her own home, has lost her claim for unfair dismissal.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 19th August 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Private schools threaten legal action to keep charity millions – The Guardian

“The head of the organisation that represents the country’s top independent schools today issued a threat to the government’s charities watchdog that it may consider legal action against moves to force private schools to open up their facilities to pupils from low-income homes.”

Full story

The Guardian, 11th August 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Improve schools to give poor children a chance at professional jobs, report says – The Guardian

“Generations of poorer children will miss out on jobs in law and medicine unless Britain does more to give them a better education, a report on social mobility said today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st July 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government slammed for failure over bogus colleges and economic migrants – The Times

“Private colleges should face compulsory regulation to prevent ‘bogus’ institutions from operating as a front for illegal immigration, a parliamentary committee recommends today.”

Full story

The Times, 21st July 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Charity loses funding to help child refugees wrongly classified as adults – The Guardian

“Hundreds of children fleeing war and persecution will be wrongly denied education and given no more help than adult asylum seekers in the UK under controversial changes introduced by the government, a leading charity warned yesterday.”

Full story

The Guardian, 1st June 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Private school child safety rules should be ‘overhauled’ – The Guardian

“Rules governing children’s safety in independent schools and academies should be ‘comprehensively overhauled’, a government advisor said today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 24th March 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Islamophobe’ head Erica Connor wins Surrey County Council payout – The Times

“A campaign by two Muslim governors to give Islam a greater presence in a state school played a key part in forcing a successful head from her job, the High Court found yesterday.”

Full story 

The Times, 20th March 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Parents face prosecution over school gay week protest – Daily Telegraph

“Parents who took their children out of school in protest at them being taught about gay, bisexual and transgender history could be prosecuted.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 6th March 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Chandler v Camden London Borough Council; Chandler v Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families – WLR Daily

Chandler v Camden London Borough Council; Chandler v Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families [2009] EWHC 219 (Admin); [2009] WLR (D) 58

“A parent of school age children could not be classed as an ‘economic operator’ and did not therefore have sufficient standing under European and domestic rules on public procurement to bring a claim for judicial review of a decision of the Secretary State to approve an expression of interest by a sponsor of an academy under s 482 of the Education Act 1996 (as substituted by s 65(1) of the Education Act 2002). The protection conferred by the procurement regime created by the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 (SI 2006/5) could only be invoked in private law proceedings by affected economic operators.”

WLR Daily, 17th February 2009

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Parents lose fight to stop ‘preferred bidder’ sponsoring London academy – The Guardian

“Parents and campaigners have lost a judicial review to prevent the government introducing academies without holding competitions to allow a range of sponsors to come forward.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th February 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New law to enforce social mobility – The Independent

“Young people from poor backgrounds have less chance of landing a highly paid job than their parents did because some measures of social mobility have gone backwards, the Government has admitted.”

Full story

The Independent, 14th January 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Fake college boss sent to prison – BBC News

“A man who ran a bogus college in a £16m fraud which involved 80,000 students has been jailed for seven years.”

Full story

BBC News, 11th December 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk