Education | UK Bar

11KBW retains its reputation as a "go-to set for education claims", and houses a deep bench of barristers who can provide advice on even "the narrowest of issues that no lawbook can answer." 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. Members recently defended the Welsh Ministers in a high-profile judicial review concerning the inclusion of LGBTQI+ teaching in a new Relationships and Sexuality Education curriculum rolled out across Welsh Schools.

Matrix Chambers is "a very strong public law set" with a "great coverage of expertise" in education law matters. 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. Recently, members have been involved in R (TTT) v Michaela Community Schools Trust, a highly significant equality, human rights and education crossover case acting for a claimant challenging a school's decision to ban prayer at lunchtime.

39 Essex Chambers "has an extremely wide and deep range of barristers who are all of the highest calibre" and offer extensive expertise covering a wide range of education matters. The set's members are trusted "to handle the most complicated cases" and 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. Recently, members acted in a human rights and education law crossover case regarding the restriction of the First-tier Tribunal's powers to award disability discrimination damages in claims brought against schools.

3PB Barristers has an impressive offering in the education sector and is seen by clients as "experts in the field of education law." Members "excel in handling technical and complex matters," including school admissions and exclusions, special educational needs and discrimination claims. 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. 3PB recently acted in London Borough of Camden v KT, an Upper Tribunal appeal concerning schooling provision for a disabled child, particularly with regard to home schooling and EOTAS.

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. Members are praised by clients for giving "considered, detailed, and practical advice regarding the next steps" in cases and are "able to and prepared to take on novel challenges." Recently, members have been involved in an important case challenging a local authority's desire to close a small rural school at the heart of a tight-knit village community due to low pupil numbers.

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. "All barristers within the set have extensive knowledge and expertise" of 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. Members recently worked a data protection and education crossover case, the outcome of which could have ramifications for the definition of "bringing the teaching profession into disrepute."