‘The University of Sussex is taking legal action to overturn a record fine levied by England’s higher education regulator, accusing the regulator of seeking to “persecute” it rather than solve problems.’
The Guardian, 27th March 2025
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Natasha Abrahart was a physics student at the University of Bristol. She was suffering from depression and social anxiety disorder, which seriously impacted her ability to partake in oral assessments. Eventually, Natasha sadly took her own life. Her father, Dr Robert Abrahart, as personal representative and estate administrator, sued the University of Bristol for negligence and breach of sections 15, 19 and 20 of the Equality Act 2010, read with section 91(2)(a) and/or (f) of the same Act. Under such provisions, universities have a duty to provide reasonable adjustments and support, in educational provision and assessments, to disabled students, defined by section 6(1) of the Equality Act 2010 as ‘a physical or mental impairment’ which has ‘a substantial and long-term adverse effect’ on the ability to ‘carry out normal day-to-day activities’. However, Schedule 13, para 4(2), to the Equality Act 2010 exempts those assessments which constitute a competency standard, defined as ‘an academic, medical or other standard applied for the purpose of determining whether or not a person has a particular level of competence or ability’.’
Legal Studies, 7th February 2025
Source: www.cambridge.org
‘England’s university regulator has been accused of “perpetuating the culture wars” after fining the University of Sussex a record £585,000 at the conclusion of an investigation into freedom of speech on campus.’
The Guardian, 26th March 2025
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘A university lecturer who brought an employment tribunal claim against his employer has won his bid for anonymity after the employment tribunal initially rejected the application.’
Law Society's Gazette, 21st March 2025
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘A new Office for Students (OfS) proposal means that consumer law requirements for new higher education providers in England go above and beyond what is required by consumer law, an expert has said.’
OUT-LAW.com, 11th March 2025
Source: www.pinsentmasons.com
‘An academic who won a landmark court battle last year against Oxford University for employing her and her colleague on “sham” gig economy contracts has criticised the university for trying to brush their case under the carpet.’
The Guardian, 8th March 2025
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The University of Cambridge has failed in an attempt to secure a five-year High Court injunction against Israel and Palestine-related protests on some of its sites.’
The Independent, 28th February 2025
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘An independent adjudicator has ruled partly in favour of students who challenged the University of Chichester after their African history course was abruptly terminated in 2023.’
The Guardian, 20th February 2025
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘A law professor who “grossly misused the procedures of the courts” in a campaign of meritless claims against the University of Warwick has been hit with an extended civil restraint order (ECRO) by a High Court judge.’
Law Society's Gazette, 18th February 2025
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘A row over plans for a new bridge over the Thames is due to go to judicial review later.’
BBC News, 4th February 2025
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘This paper explores the contemporary elective module provision in undergraduate English law degrees. The demise of the qualifying law degree as a requirement to pursue qualification as a solicitor in England and Wales means that providers of undergraduate English law degrees now have increasing flexibility over the structure and content of courses. This paper reviews elective modules offered at providers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in the academic year 2023–2024 and finds that while there is increasing diversity among elective provision when compared to historic provision, there is also a degree of standardisation among degree providers. It discusses the significance of this standardisation in the post-qualifying law degree world and develops seven themes based on current elective provision to highlight the broader trends in elective provision. It then concludes by arguing that the legacy of the qualifying law degree is clearly influencing the new normal and suggests several questions which this raises for undergraduate legal education going forward.’
The Law Teacher, 22nd January 2025
Source: www.tandfonline.com
‘The Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, has promised that key provisions of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 will be brought into force, whilst “burdensome” provisions will be scrapped.’
Local Government Lawyer, 16th January 2025
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘The government is expected to reactivate a piece of legislation aimed at protecting free speech on university campuses. The Higher Education Freedom of Speech Act, which could have seen universities fined for failing to uphold freedom of speech, was passed under the previous, Conservative government in 2023. But its implementation was stopped shortly after Labour’s election win last summer over concerns the law was potentially damaging to student welfare. A government source has said the legislation is now being recommenced to make it workable.’
BBC news, 15th January 2025
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘A Palestinian student who was stripped of her student visa after remarks she made about the Israel-Gaza war has won a human rights appeal against the Home Office’s decision.’
The Guardian, 30th October 2024
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘A Coventry University student who concealed her newborn baby in a cereal box hidden inside a suitcase after giving birth on her bathroom floor has been convicted of murder.’
The Guardian, 24th October 2024
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The London School of Economics has been criticised by a UN rapporteur and accused of Islamophobia after reportedly raising an allegation that students behind a pro-Palestine demonstration in July had prompted fears of a repeat of the 7/7 terrorist attacks.’
The Guardian, 20th October 2024
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘In February, we posted Anti-Zionism as a protected belief: Miller, which commented on the case of Dr David Miller v University of Bristol [2024] ET 1400780/2022. Dr Miller had been appointed Professor of Political Sociology at the University from 1 September 2018, but in 2019 there were complaints about his conduct, including what was said to be his use of antisemitic language. The Community Security Trust charity said that a lecture he had given had been a “false, vile, anti-Semitic slur”. The University appointed an independent barrister to investigate this as part of its internal complaints procedure, who concluded on 4 December 2020 that there was no formal case to answer in connection with any of the matters investigated.’
Law & Religion UK, 16th October 2024
Source: lawandreligionuk.com
‘Address at the Opening Ceremony for the Advanced LLM Programme, University of Leiden, September 2024.’
Supreme Court, 11th October 2024
Source: www.supremecourt.uk
‘A safeguarding review concluded that opportunities had been missed and made a number of recommendations, while Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board apologised and accepted the recommendations.’
BBC News, 7th October 2024
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘When are university and other protests impermissible? When ‘a protest turns into a base camp for criminal activity’, said Ritchie J on 19 June 2024, giving judgment in University of Birmingham v Persons Unknown (1) and Mariyah Ali (2) [2024] EWHC 1529 (KB). And while concerning a university, this is also relevant to local government.’
Law Society's Gazette, 19th September 2024
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
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