Children’s Rights Conference – Ending the School to Prison Pipeline: Promoting Universal Children’s Rights

The Garden Court Chambers Children’s Rights Team, in collaboration with the University College London (UCL)’s Centre for Access to Justice, hosted an in-person conference on Universal Children’s Day.

The Garden Court Chambers Children’s Rights Team is at the forefront of protecting and upholding children’s rights, domestically and internationally, whether in the family courts or as a child defendant. We strive for the highest standards for children and provide training and guidance to continually improve legal knowledge and expertise on children’s rights.

Programme:

2.00pm – 2.30pm: Registration, Teas & Coffee

2.30pm – 2.35pm: Welcome – Kate Aubrey-Johnson, Garden Court Chambers Children’s Rights Team Convenor

2.35pm – 2.45pm: A Tribute to Professor Michael Freeman – Professor Alison Diduck, UCL

2.45pm – 3.10pm: Keynote Speech: Education in Children’s Prisons – Charlie Taylor, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons

3.15pm – 4.30pm: Workshop 1 (Choose One Session)

1a. Challenging Discriminatory Behaviour Policies in Schools 

• Acland Bryant, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers (Chair)
• Nicola Braganza KC, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
• Dr Karen Graham, Lecturer in Criminology, City, University of London
• Agnes Agyepong, Founder & CEO, Global Black Maternal Health Institute
• Dan Rosenberg, Partner, Simpson Millar

1b. Religious Freedom, Cultural Identity, Political Expression, and School Exclusions

• Amanda Weston KC, Garden Court Chambers and Commissioner for Independent Commission on UK Counter-Terrorism Law, Policy, and Practice (Chair)
• Raheel Mohammed, Director, Maslaha
• Dr Layla Aitlhadj, Director, Prevent Watch
• Florence Cole, Solicitor, Harrow Law Centre
• Grace Preston, Senior Policy Officer, Traveller Movement

1c. Understanding the School-to-Prison Pipeline – School Exclusion, Care Experience, Pupil Referral Units & Over-Criminalisation

• Alex Temple, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers (Chair)
• Denika Swack, Solicitor, GT Stewart
• Sabrina Simpson, Solicitor, Coram
• Anthony Benedict, CEO designate, Ambition Community Trust and Executive Headteacher, Tameside Pupil Referral Unit
• Dr Matthew Jay, Senior Research Fellow in Epidemiology, UCL Legal Epidemiology Group

4.30pm – 5pm: Refreshment Break

5pm – 6.15pm: Workshop 2 (Choose One Session)

2a. Police in Schools – are they ‘Safer Schools’, or Criminalising Children?

• Audrey Cherryl Mogan, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers (Chair)
• Florence Cole, Solicitor, Harrow Law Centre
• Victoria Hodgson, Specialist SENCO Teacher, London South East Academies Trust Outreach
• Claire Muccio, Head of Outreach, London South East Academies Trust
• Dr Shabna Begum, CEO, Runnymede Trust
• Dr Jo Easton, Director of Policy and Advocacy, Unlock
• Aika Stephenson, Legal Director & Founder and Co-Lead, Just for Kids Law

2b. Caring for Kids – Protecting the Rights of Care Experienced Children (including Unaccompanied Minors) in the Criminal Justice System 

• Rachel Knowles, Director, UCL Centre for Access to Justice & Associate Professor, UCL (Chair)
• Helen Foot, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
• Jennifer Twite, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
• Dr Laura Janes, Consultant Solicitor & Trustee, National Association for Youth Justice

2c. Achieving a Fair Trial – Ensuring the Criminal Trial Process Meets a Child’s Needs

• Sonia Kalsi, Associate Professor, UCL (Chair)
• Caroline Liggins, Partner, Hodge Jones & Allen
• Joanne Cecil KC, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
• Stella Harris, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers

6.15pm – 6.45pm: Feedback Session 

6.45pm – 7.30pm: Plenary – How is Practice Changing Post ZA? – Mrs Justice May, Judge of the High Court of England and Wales

7.30pm – 9.00pm: Drinks & Networking