Free Hybrid Seminar – School Exclusion Law and Practice Update

The last year saw highly significant developments in the case law on permanent exclusion from school, with three cases reaching the Court of Appeal. There have been no other Court of Appeal cases concerning permanent exclusion since the law changed in 2011.

Garden Court Chambers’ Education Law Team is at the forefront of litigation concerning permanent exclusion, acting in all the Court of Appeal cases and all the reported High Court judicial review claims in the last year. Much of this litigation has arisen from the School Inclusion Project, an initiative coordinated by Garden Court to increase access to justice and address systemic discrimination in the use of permanent exclusion.

The panel will consider the following issues:

• Legal aid for Independent Review Panels- Stephanie Harrison KC
• Child Criminal Exploitation and permanent exclusion – Nicola Braganza KC
• Article 4 ECHR and local authorities- Nadia O’Mara
• Discrimination in judicial review and intensity of review- Ollie Persey
• Isolation Rooms- Michael Etienne
• Disability discrimination claims in the First-tier Tribunal – Alex Temple

The panel will discuss the emerging themes in recent litigation as well as tactics and tips for bringing challenges going forwards.

Speakers

Stephanie Harrison KC (Chair), Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
Described as a “brilliant advocate”, Stephanie is a leading public law practitioner who has appeared at all court levels. Her multi-disciplinary practice spans the breadth of public law and civil liberties. Stephanie is regularly involved in test case litigation and has been instrumental in winning some of the most important cases within her areas of specialism in recent times. Much of her work is high profile and receives media coverage. She is passionate about upholding and advancing the rights of vulnerable minority groups and children.

Nicola Braganza KC, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
Nicola is recognised as a leading barrister specialising in Equality and Discrimination Law, Public Law and Human Rights. Her broad practice spans the areas of Employment, Education, Community Care, Immigration and Asylum Law. Nicola has considerable experience in bringing complex and large-scale challenges against the state, including civil claims for damages on behalf of individuals and groups. She has particular expertise in representing highly vulnerable adults and children, including victims of trafficking and modern slavery, and those held in immigration detention.

Nadia O’Mara, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
Nadia is a public law and human rights barrister. She is ranked as a ‘Rising Star’ in the Legal 500. Nadia was a finalist for the Legal Aid Newcomer Award at the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year (LALY) Awards 2025, and was shortlisted for ‘Young Pro Bono Barrister of the Year’ at the Bar Pro Bono Awards 2024. Her practice encompasses immigration & asylum, community care, education, human rights, civil liberties and anti-discrimination law.

Ollie Persey, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
Ollie is a public law and human rights barrister. He is ranked in Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500 across his practice areas. Ollie won the Legal Aid Newcomer Award at the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year (LALY) Awards 2024 and was a finalist for a ‘Junior of the Year’ award at the Legal 500 Awards 2022. He is a member of the Equality & Human Rights Commission’s panel of preferred counsel. Ollie is a trustee of Southwark Law Centre, a director of the Education Law Association and a former co-chair of Young Legal Aid Lawyers. Prior to joining Garden Court, he was a lawyer at Public Law Project, an academic at the LSE and Oxford University and worked for the UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights.

Michael Etienne, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
Michael acts for children, young people and their families in all forums where education law issues arise, including the First-tier Tribunal, the Administrative Court, university panels, governing body disciplinary committees and independent review panel. His experience of actions against policing and prison authorities underscores a particular concern about the need to break the “school to prison pipeline”, the lamentably entrenched flow of children excluded from school, then being drawn into the criminal justice system – at every juncture, over-represented by black pupils, pupils from Gypsy-Roma Traveller (GRT) communities and children with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities and in receipt of Free School Meals.

Alex Temple, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
Alex is a barrister specialising in public law, discrimination and human rights. He has extensive experience in education, community care, policing and criminal records. Alex often advises children and vulnerable adults in cases arising from schools, colleges, exam boards, universities, integrated care boards and local and central government. Alex acts regularly in claims for judicial review, EHCP appeals and money claims. He has experience acting in proposed strategic litigation, and advises changemaking individuals and organisations.

If you have booked an online ticket, we will send joining details to all those who have signed up on the day of the event. If you have not received the link by 2pm on 24th February, and it is not in your junk inbox, please email webinars@gclaw.co.uk.