Law and religion roundup – Law & Religion UK

‘Further to the notices relating to Jonathan Fletcher posted by the Diocese of Southwark and the Metropolitan Police, it is perhaps timely to include a link to the Attorney General’s Note, Contempt of court and social media.’

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Law & Religion UK, 14th July 2024

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

‘Paying £240 holiday school fine was a no-brainer’ – BBC News

Posted July 18th, 2024 in fines, holidays, news, school children, truancy by michael

‘Mrs Melling and her husband Paul from Leyland, Lancashire, were each fined £120 after taking their children out of primary school for a trip to Egypt.’

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BBC News, 18th July 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ampleforth inquiry finds alleged serious abuse against pupils in last 10 years – The Guardian

‘An inquiry into the running of a prestigious private school said it uncovered a string of “serious abuse allegations” committed against pupils by monks and staff within the last decade.’

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The Guardian, 12th July 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Manchester teacher who groomed two boys jailed for six-and-a-half years – The Guardian

‘Rebecca Joynes, 30, was found guilty of six counts of sexual activity with a child, two while in a position of trust, after a trial in May.’

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The Guardian, 4th July 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

The test for ceasing to maintain an EHCP – Local Government Lawyer

‘Abby Buttle reports on a successful appeal to the Upper Tribunal on the test for ceasing to maintain an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).’

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Local Government Lawyer, 28th June 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

CPS Statement: Decision not to charge in relation to fatal collision at The Study Prep School, Wimbledon – Crown Prosecution Service

‘CPS Statement: Decision not to charge in relation to fatal collision at The Study Prep School, Wimbledon.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 26th June 2024

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Tribunal “erred in law” by failing to recognise young person lacked capacity to litigate and failing to appoint his mother as alternative person – Local Government Lawyer

‘An Upper Tribunal judge has ruled that the First-tier Tribunal “erred in law” by failing to recognise that a young person lacked capacity to litigate and consequently his mother should have been appointed as his alternative person.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 28th June 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Boy who attacked sleeping children at private school Blundell’s with hammer guilty of attempted murder – The Independent

Posted June 24th, 2024 in attempted murder, children, news, school children, teachers, young offenders by tracey

‘A boy has been found guilty of attempted murder after attacking two sleeping students and a teacher with hammers in a devastating rampage in the middle of the night at a private school.’

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The Independent, 22nd June 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Pupils mocked and put in headlocks by school staff – BBC News

‘A senior staff member at an independent school for children with special educational needs has been recorded by BBC Panorama saying how he wanted to drown a pupil in a bath “like a kitten”.
An undercover reporter spent almost seven weeks at Life Wirral in Wallasey and witnessed staff using offensive language to mock pupils for their neurodiversity or learning disabilities, as well as manhandling them into dangerous headlocks.’

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BBC news, 17th June 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Teacher given life ban after having sex with pupil – BBC News

‘A teacher who repeatedly had sex with a vulnerable 16-year-old pupil has been told by a judge he will never be allowed to teach again.’

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BBC News, 14th June 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

High Court dismisses challenge over confinement of free school meals in London to state-funded primary schools – Local Government Lawyer

‘The High Court has rejected a legal challenge brought by a group of parents on behalf of their children against a decision by the Mayor of London to extend his Universal Free School Meals scheme for the academic year 2024-2025, but to continue to confine the scheme to state-funded primary schools.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 12th June 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Parents win fresh hearing of claim of failure to make reasonable adjustments to delivery of curriculum – Local Government Lawyer

‘The First Tier Tribunal “materially erred in law” in its determination of reasonable adjustments claims brought by parents in relation to their daughter.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 7th June 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

R v Michaela Community Schools Trust: Human Rights and Freedom of Religion in the UK – Oxford Human Rights Hub

‘The relationship between Islam, religious freedom, and human rights has long been a subject of debate in Britain. However, the significance of the latest instalment in this saga, the judgment of R v Michaela Community Schools Trust, lies not in Islam’s relationship with secularism or human rights but instead in illustrating the incoherence of British ideas on freedom of religion.’

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Oxford Human Rights Hub, 16th May 2024

Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk

Homelessness and human rights – Law Society’s Gazette

‘What is the correct approach to determining the suitability of accommodation when the applicant’s circumstances engage rights under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)? This is an issue of general public importance affecting local authorities discharging homelessness duties under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996. Who says? Andrews LJ, when she directed that an appeal from Mr Rabah Ghaoui should proceed to a hearing.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 14th May 2024

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Banning prayer in school: a lawful interference?- UK Human Rights Blog

‘The case of R (TTT) v Michaela Community Schools Trust [2024] EWHC 843 (Admin) in the High Court before Mr Justice Linden concerned a claim brought by a pupil referred to as a TTT (“the Claimant”) against the Michaela Community Schools Trust; (“the School”). The School is a secular secondary free school in the London Borough of Brent, which appeared as an interested party. The School is ethnically and religiously diverse, although over half of the pupils, including the Claimant are Muslims.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 15th May 2024

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

In a high-profile ruling, the High Court has rejected a legal challenge to a school prayer ban. Philip Wood explains why – Local Government Lawyer

Posted May 14th, 2024 in equality, human rights, news, religious discrimination, school children by tracey

‘The High Court has dismissed a challenge from a pupil at the Michaela Community School, a secondary school in Wembley, London, who argued that a ban on prayer in the school was a breach of the Equality Act as well as her Human Rights. There was also a related challenge to two suspensions that the pupil had received on the basis that they were not procedurally fair.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 10th May 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Schoolgirls treated differently to boys – Ofsted – BBC News

‘Girls at a Bradford primary school told Ofsted inspectors they are treated differently to boys during an inspection last September.’

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BBC News, 7th May 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Navigating housing rights, education and religious freedom: Ghaoui – Law & Religion UK

‘In Ghaoui v London Borough of Waltham Forest [2024] EWCA Civ 405, Mr Ghaoui, his wife and two young children lived in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. They were rendered homeless in April 2019 and Mr Ghaoui applied to the local authority for assistance with accommodation. In September 2019, he sent his older child to a fee-paying Muslim nursery in Waltham Forest [2]. The family was evicted in March 2020 and Waltham Forest LBC provided temporary accommodation in the Harlow area, some 20 miles from their previous address, which made it harder for the parents to get to work in London and for the child to go to the nursery [3]. In early September 2022, the younger child entered the same nursery [5]. Mr Ghaoui argued that in offering them accommodation 20 miles from the school, Waltham Forest was “not considering their rights”, while Waltham Forest explained at some length that it was not under any legal duty to provide accommodation that allowed the children to attend a specific religious school: in short, it was not a housing “need” [6]. The point at issue was whether or not the local authority was, in fact, under any such obligation.’

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Law & Religion UK, 1st May 2024

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

City college loses JR over Ofsted ‘good’ rather than ‘outstanding’ rating – Local Government Lawyer

‘The High Court has rejected a judicial review claim brought by a City Technology College, which challenged a decision by Ofsted to rate the leadership and management at the school as ‘good’, rather than ‘outstanding’.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 25th April 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Cookery teachers banned after altering pupils’ food – BBC News

‘Two cookery teachers have been permanently banned from the profession after altering pupils’ dishes in a bid to improve their grades.’

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BBC News, 23rd April 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk