Government Legal Department Vacancies

Government Legal Department Vacancies

VAT on school fees and its impact on the SEND system: an emerging pressure point

Lauren Fullerton and Arran Dowling-Hussey look at the impact of the Government’s imposition of VAT on school fees has had on the SEND system. Read more

  NEWS

Jun 10, 2025

Ofsted and CQC to change way area SEND inspections are undertaken

Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) are to make a series of improvements to the way area SEND inspections are carried out, following a review of the framework for inspecting local area partnership arrangements launched in January 2023.

  FEATURES AND ANALYSIS

June 18, 2025

One teacher, two jobs

Alexandra Addington looks at a recent disciplinary hearing concerning a teacher who phoned in sick to work at a different school, and considers what steps schools and colleges can take if they suspect a staff member of moonlighting.
May 21, 2025

How do you protect your staff from parental aggression and abuse?

Teachers often choose their profession driven by a desire to positively shape and inspire future generations. However, they are increasingly encountering abuse from parents, both in person and online. Alexandra Addington looks at the legal options for addressing the issue.
April 23, 2025

Honouring the Armed Forces Covenant

Geoff Wild examines the purpose of the Armed Forces Covenant and offers suggestions as to how local authorities can put it into practice.
April 15, 2025

What next for SEND law ?

Lauren Fullerton and Arran Dowling-Hussey look at what will happen next for SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) law.

Sponsored Editorial

Unlocking legal talent

Jonathan Bourne of Damar Training sets out why in-house council teams and law firms should embrace apprenticeships.

  MORE NEWS

May 22, 2025

Court of Appeal refuses permission for challenge to school site closure

The Court of Appeal has refused permission for an appeal of the High Court's decision to refuse permission for a judicial review challenge that argued a school's closure of a site used to educate children with social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs was unlawful.
Apr 29, 2025

Practice direction issued on bundles in SEND tribunals

The Courts and Tribunals Judiciary has issued a practice direction to ensure consistency in the preparation of hearing bundles in Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) appeals and disability discrimination in schools’ claims.
Apr 16, 2025

Council puts brakes on proposed school closure following legal action

Leeds City Council has said it will not issue a statutory notice to close a primary school in Yeadon at the end of the academic year, after being sent a letter before action claiming that there were “significant flaws” in the local authority’s consultation process.

  MORE FEATURES

April 15, 2025

Staff misconduct and employment policies

Alexandra Addington looks at the lessons to be learned from a recent Court of Appeal ruling that without a 'no touching' policy it was unfair to dismiss an Ofsted inspector for brushing rain off pupil.
April 11, 2025

The cost of free childcare

Siân McGibbon summarises an important recent High Court judgment considering the lawfulness of imposing mandatory “top-up” charges on parents accessing free early years education.
February 19, 2025

From classroom to spa

A headteacher was recently given a green light to stay in the profession despite going on a school-time retreat. Alexandra Addington looks at the decision.
February 19, 2025

Use of AI within schools in Wales

Trish D'Souza and Claire Archibald examine the proposed review by Estyn, the education and training inspectorate for Wales, of the use of AI within schools.
January 21, 2025

Changes to admissions

What does the new schools bill mean for admissions? Joanne Goddard explains.
January 21, 2025

How should a school or trust approach a Data Subject Access Request?

More and more it is commonplace for schools and academy trusts to receive Data Subject Access Requests (DSARs) from parents, either for themselves or on the behalf of their child. Liam Ellwood explores what a DSAR might look like, and how a schools or trust should look to deal with it in the first instance.
January 17, 2025

Securing special educational provision

The High Court has provided important guidance on the ‘absolute duty’ to secure special educational provision, writes Ollie Persey.
November 20, 2024

Schools and gender questioning

Silence persists on gender questioning guidance for schools. Will it be next week, next year or is it on hold indefinitely? Hayley O'Sullivan reports.
November 20, 2024

New guidance for intervention in schools

The Department for Education (DfE) has now released new guidance relating to the support and intervention for schools, following the scrapping of single-word judgements. Katie Michelon and Anna Fellows set out the key points.