Ranking tables

Education | UK Bar

London (Bar)

Barristers in this section are predominantly based in London and act for pupils and students, their parents, or educational institutions. Matters cover special educational needs (SEN), admissions and exclusions, disability discrimination claims, judicial review cases, disputes with private schools, and transport to school issues. Ranked individuals are also able to provide advice and representation on the full range of school-related law, including pupil-related litigation and child protection issues, debt recovery, governance matters, school reorganisations, employment law, exclusions, policy and procedure reviews, and the establishment of academies.

Rankings overview for Sets

  1. David Wolfe KCMatrix Chambers
1

  1. Jonathan Moffett KC
    Jonathan Moffett KC 11KBW22 Years Ranked
  2. Sarah Hannett KC
    Sarah Hannett KC Matrix Chambers16 Years Ranked
  3. Fiona Scolding KCLandmark Chambers
  4. Helen Mountfield KCMatrix Chambers
  5. Peter Oldham KC11KBW
3

  1. Katherine Apps KC
    Katherine Apps KC 39 Essex Chambers14 Years Ranked
  2. Daniel Squires KCMatrix Chambers
  3. Galina Ward KCLandmark Chambers
  4. Joanne Clement KC11KBW
  5. Mathew Purchase KCMatrix Chambers
  6. Nicholas Armstrong KCMatrix Chambers
  7. Nicholas Bowen KCDoughty Street Chambers
  8. Nigel Giffin KC11KBW
  9. Rory Dunlop KC39 Essex Chambers
1

  1. David LawsonSerjeants' Inn Chambers
  2. Leon GlenisterLandmark Chambers
  3. Paul Greatorex11KBW
2

  1. Hannah Slarks
    Hannah Slarks 11KBW6 Years Ranked
  2. Shu Shin Luh
    Shu Shin Luh Doughty Street Chambers15 Years Ranked
  3. Alexander LineOuter Temple Chambers
  4. Charlotte Hadfield3PB Barristers
  5. Jack Anderson39 Essex Chambers
3

  1. Alice de Coverley
    Alice de Coverley 3PB Barristers6 Years Ranked
  2. Ben Mitchell
    Ben Mitchell 11KBW4 Years Ranked
  3. Katherine Eddy
    Katherine Eddy 11KBW12 Years Ranked
  4. Laith Dilaimi
    Laith Dilaimi Old Square Chambers7 Years Ranked
  5. Alice IrvingDoughty Street Chambers
  6. Anna Bicarregui39 Essex Chambers
  7. Anna TkaczynskaSerjeants' Inn Chambers
  8. Gráinne MellonGarden Court Chambers
  9. Raj DesaiMatrix Chambers
  10. Shazia AkhtarGatehouse Chambers
4

  1. John Friel
    John Friel 3PB Barristers25 Years Ranked
  2. Katherine Anderson
    Katherine Anderson 3PB Barristers6 Years Ranked
  3. Katherine Barnes
    Katherine Barnes 39 Essex Chambers7 Years Ranked
  4. Mark Greaves
    Mark Greaves Matrix Chambers6 Years Ranked
  5. Matthew Wyard
    Matthew Wyard 39 Essex Chambers5 Years Ranked
  6. Raphael Hogarth
    Raphael Hogarth 11KBW3 Years Ranked
  7. Zoe Gannon
    Zoe Gannon 11KBW6 Years Ranked
  8. Amelia Walker1 Crown Office Row
  9. Emma Waldron3PB Barristers
  10. Harini Iyengar11KBW
  11. Jennifer Agyekum3PB Barristers
  12. Jennifer Thelen39 Essex Chambers
  13. Louise PriceDoughty Street Chambers
  14. Ollie PerseyGarden Court Chambers
U

  1. Jake RylattSerjeants' Inn Chambers

All Sets profiles

1

Band 1

  1. 11KBW
    1
    11KBW
    Education
    2026 | Band 1 | 22 Years Ranked

    11KBW maintains its reputation as a set that offers "market-leading expertise in education law" and that benefits from "huge strength in depth across all levels of call." Particular areas of strength for the team include special educational needs cases, discrimination claims and examination disputes. Members regularly receive instructions from both individuals and institutions from across the education estate and have particular expertise in school reorganisations, admissions and exclusions, and employment disputes. Recent high-profile work includes an instruction on behalf of claimants in a judicial review case challenging the government's policy of imposing VAT on private school fees.

    Mark Dann leads the clerking team as senior clerk.

  2. Matrix Chambers
    1
    Matrix Chambers
    Education
    2026 | Band 1 | 22 Years Ranked

    Matrix Chambers is widely renowned as a leading set for education matters. One source notes: "Matrix Chambers has an exceptional group of seniors and juniors capable of advising on innovative, developing and cutting-edge areas of education law." The set's enviable client base includes several local authorities, the Department for Education and Ofsted, as well as schools, colleges, universities, and individual students and parents. Members are regularly called upon to act for and advise on education judicial review challenges and disputes concerning SEN, discrimination, safeguarding, exclusions and school closures. Recent work includes Hamon v UCL, a case before the High Court in which members represent students seeking compensation due to disruptions caused by lecturer strikes and the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Elizabeth Bousher is senior practice manager.

2

Band 2

  1. 39 Essex Chambers
    2
    39 Essex Chambers
    Education
    2026 | Band 2 | 12 Years Ranked

    39 Essex Chambers offers extensive expertise covering a wide range of education matters. Given its "strength across the board from very junior level to KC level," sources regard 39 Essex Chambers as a "go-to set for more complex cases." Members are particularly well regarded for their handling of cases concerning the higher education sector, including challenges to grant decisions and admissions, and claims involving allegations of discrimination and procedural unfairness. Members have additional expertise in claims for judicial review concerning SEN funding and employment within the education sector. The team acts on behalf of an enviable roster of clients, including the Secretary of State for Education, higher education institutions, local authorities, schools and parents. Recent notable work includes a case against the Secretary of State for Education challenging aspects of the legislation governing free school meal entitlement relating to children with EOTAS packages, which resulted in a commitment to issue new guidance.

    Peter Campbell and Sheraton Doyle are directors of clerking.

3

Band 3

  1. 3PB Barristers
    3
    3PB Barristers
    Education
    2026 | Band 3 | 7 Years Ranked

    3PB Barristers is well-regarded for its coverage of the education section. Interviewees consider the set to have "a perfect blend of experience, depth and energy," and commend its tenants as being "incredibly experienced, knowledgeable and creative in their legal advice and oral advocacy." Members regularly handle matters relating to school admissions and exclusions, special educational needs and discrimination claims, for which the set is particularly renowned. The team also offers expertise in disciplinary matters in the higher education sector. Members represent education institutions, such as schools, universities and academies, as well as pupils, governing bodies and NGOs and regularly appear before the First-tier Tribunal, Upper Tribunal, and Court of Appeal. Notable recent work includes R (AY) v Vale of Glamorgan Council, a judicial review case brought on behalf of a pupil with SEND relating to the question of whether the child's parent should have been permitted to bring an advocate of their choice to the pupil's IDP review.

    Russell Porter leads the clerking team as practice director.

  2. Doughty Street Chambers
    3
    Doughty Street Chambers
    Education
    2026 | Band 3 | 2 Years Ranked

    Doughty Street Chambers offers expertise across the education sector, including assistance with judicial reviews and negligence and discrimination claims against schools and universities. The set isn't afraid to tackle any education issue, from bullying and disability discrimination claims to appearances in the First-tier and Upper Tribunals fighting for adequate special educational needs provision. Recent work includes claims challenging Bristol City and Devon County Councils' decisions to enter into "safety valve" agreements with the Department for Education.

    Sian Wilkins is the senior clerk for civil matters.

  3. Landmark Chambers
    3
    Landmark Chambers
    Education
    2026 | Band 3 | 6 Years Ranked

    Landmark Chambers regularly receives instructions to act for academies and higher and further education institutions, as well as local authorities, government organisations and individual parents on a wide range of education law matters. The chambers is noted to provide "excellent coverage of the sector," and the set's tenants exhibit expertise across discrimination claims, school closures and safeguarding issues. Members are also highly regarded for their advisory work concerning children with special educational needs, and they have significant experience of appearing in SEN hearings. Recent judicial review work includes a challenge to Hertfordshire County Council's policies relating to EHC plans and a case examining how a school should approach a permanent exclusion decision where there may be criminal exploitation concerns.

    Ben Connor and Mark Ball lead the clerking team as practice directors.