“11KBW is a standout set that has unparalleled depth and breadth of experience and acts for the full range of clients in the education market”
Chambers & Partners

The 11KBW Education Group is pleased to invite you to its annual education conference in London on Tuesday 5 November 2019.  As usual, the conference will be divided into two separate sessions – schools in the morning and universities in the afternoon with a lunch for all in the middle of the day.  The subjects to be covered are listed below and there will also be ample opportunity for questions and answers.

Topics to be covered in the schools session in the morning will include:

• SEN funding challenges
• Transgender pupils
• Injunctions: when schools need them and how to get one
• Mental capacity issues in education
• 11KBW crossover: data protection, employment and procurement
• Case law round-up

Topics to be covered in the universities session in the afternoon will include:

• Office for Students: the new sheriff in town
• Investigating misconduct on campus: getting it right and getting it wrong
• Freedom of speech on campus: where are the limits?
• Brexit: what universities need to know
• Legislation and case law update
• 11KBW crossover: inquests, data protection, employment and procurement

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The High Court yesterday handed down judgment in R (An Academy) v Medway Council and Secretary of State for Education. This was a comparatively rare judicial review challenge in the area of special educational needs; many such disputes are dealt with in the specialist tribunal.

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Jonathan Moffett QC and Michael Lee are currently representing Surrey County Council before the Divisional Court in its defence of a challenge to its Special Educational Needs budget. The case concerns the extent of local authorities’ obligations to consult and impact assess budget decisions of this type. The case, which is due to conclude today, has been reported by the BBC, the Guardian, and the Independent.

“11KBW is a standout set that has unparalleled depth and breadth of experience
and acts for the full range of clients in the education market”
Chambers & Partners

The 11KBW Education Group is pleased to invite you to its annual education conference in London on Thursday 1 March 2018 and Manchester on Monday 12 March 2018.  The conference will be divided into two separate sessions – schools in the morning and universities in the afternoon with a lunch for all in the middle of the day.  The subjects to be covered are listed below and there will also be ample opportunity for questions and answers. Read more »

11KBW is ‘the standout set for education law in terms of strength in depth’ Legal 500

The 11KBW Education Group are holding their annual education conference on Wednesday 30 November 2016.  The conference will be divided into two separate sessions – schools and academies in the morning and universities in the afternoon with a lunch for all in the middle of the day.  The topics to be covered are listed below and both sessions will be chaired by Peter Oldham QC and include the opportunity for questions and answers.   Read more »

Secretary of State for Education v NUT (14 March 2016, Kerr J)

The Court has decided that a challenge to the lawfulness of strike action may be brought by the Secretary of State for Education upon an application for an interim declaration pursuant to CPR r25.1(1)(b), even though the Secretary of State had no legal cause of action, or ‘lis’, against the union for inducement of breaches of contract; any such claim resting with the employer. In the instant case, the NUT called upon teachers in sixth form colleges to undertake a day of strike action. The teachers were employed directly by the colleges, not by the Secretary of State. Nonetheless, in what is understood to be the first case of its kind, the Court (Kerr J) accepted that the Secretary of State had standing to bring the challenge in light of the public interest involved and her status as both the target of the strike action and guardian of education in England and Wales. Although, on the facts, a declaration was not granted, and the strike will be going ahead, this case represents recognition of the Court’s willingness to grant declarations, including interim declarations, in appropriate cases.

Clive Sheldon QC and Marcus Pilgerstorfer represented the Secretary of State.