Rosa Thomas

Overview

Rosa’s practice covers the full breadth of Education Law across the High Court, First-tier Tribunal, County Court, Independent Review Panels, School Admissions Panels, and university appeals.

Rosa acts in and advises on judicial review claims concerning school exclusions, breaches of the Children and Families Act 2014 and the Education Act 1996, and other broader challenges.

Rosa regularly represents parents and young people in the First-tier Tribunal. She has considerable experience in disability discrimination matters and appeals relating to Education, Health and Care Plans, particularly appeals concerning complex EOTIS packages and long transitions back into education settings.

Rosa’s education practice also covers university matters, including fitness to practice proceedings and other internal appeals. Rosa accepts instructions in county court claims concerning  discrimination, breaches of human rights, negligence, and breach of contract, appearing both for and against educational institutions.

Before coming to the bar, Rosa was a volunteer representative with the School Exclusion Project representing parents at Governors’ Disciplinary Committees and Independent Review Panels to seek the reinstatement of excluded students.

Notable Cases

R (HVF) v Lift Schools [2026] EWHC 2088 (Admin): Successful judicial review quashing the permanent exclusion of a 10-year-old disabled child. This judgment provides significant guidance on the importance of providing reasons for exclusions and the careful assessment schools are expected to undertake when considering whether the threshold conditions for permanent exclusion have been crossed. In particular, the assessment should include consideration of proportionality. The judgment observed that the Statutory Guidance on permanent exclusions may require updating as a result.

R (PZP and STW) v HS Academy Trust and the Independent Review Panel of HS Academy Trust [2026] EWHC 489 (Admin): Acted for the appellants in a complex High Court case concerning conditions for waiver of attendance of a SEN Expert at an Independent Review Panel, Equality Act duties, and considerations of process rationality in determining remedies.

R (LM and AM) v An Academy Trust [2024] EWJC 2267 (Admin): Acted for the appellants in a judicial review challenge of a reconstituted Governors Disciplinary Committee’s decision to uphold a permanent exclusion. This case considered the requirement under the Keeping Children Safe in Education Guidance for a risk assessment in cases of alleged sexual violence.

Overview

Rosa is regularly instructed in all areas of employment law, including unfair dismissal, discrimination, trade union detriment and dismissal, whistleblowing, wages, and breach of contract.

Rosa represents employees in multi-day final matter hearings, preliminary hearings and judicial mediations. Rosa also has experience representing employees in interim relief applications.

Rosa is a co-author of ‘A Practical Guide to Age Discrimination in the Workplace’, a book for practitioners and litigants in person pursuing age discrimination claims in the Employment Tribunal. Before coming to the bar, Rosa worked for the national charity Age UK. This background has given her particular insight into cases concerning age discrimination, both directly and by association where employees have caring responsibilities, which she brings to her casework.

Overview

Rosa advises on and appears in judicial review proceedings concerning education law and children’s rights.  Rosa welcomes instructions in all areas of administrative and public law, including education law, community care, and children’s rights.