Parent School Issues

We have very good education law experience in dealing with parent/school contracts, having advised schools on disputes arising in relation to parent/school contracts and having reviewed and updated parent/school contracts (including all aspects of necessary parental consent for example for extra-curricula activities). We have advised further and higher education institutions on disputes arising from the student contract and on consumer law aspects of the student contract. We have advised a number of clients on claims for failure to educate including on judicial review arising from a claim from a pupil for failing to educate.

We are familiar with the parent/school contract provided by the Independent Schools' Bursars Association.

We have advised a number of clients in connection with claims for disability discrimination and special educational needs the majority of which have arisen in the context of the parent/school contract. We have a national reputation in this area. We regularly deal with pupils/students with dyslexia. The Head of our education team sits as a Chairman of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal which ensures that we are at the forefront of developments in this area.

Child protection issues
We have recently drafted child protection and related polices for 2 large FE colleges. We have also advised on and drafted policies for the protection of vulnerable adults. One of our team is a Chair both of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal and also the Care Standards Tribunal and we have knowledge and expertise therefore of all aspects of dealing with children and vulnerable adults.