The claimant had been released from prison and sought to be housed as a homeless person. He said that his imprisonment brought him within the category of having special need. He also claimed damages for the breach. Held: The Act was intended to confer a general social benefit of reducing homelessness, not a right in … Continue reading O’Rourke v Mayor etc of the London Borough of Camden: HL 12 Jun 1997
Statutory Duty Does Not Create Common Law Duty The mere existence of statutory power to remedy a defect cannot of itself create a duty of care to do so. A highway authority need not have a duty of care to highway users because of its duty to maintain the highway. The two stage test ‘involves … Continue reading Stovin v Wise, Norfolk County Council (Third Party): HL 24 Jul 1996
Lloyds Agents Owe Care Duty to Member; no Contract Managing agents conducted the financial affairs of the Lloyds Names belonging to the syndicates under their charge. It was alleged that they managed these affairs with a lack of due careleading to enormous losses. Held: The assumption of responsibility principle enunciated in Hedley is not confined … Continue reading Henderson v Merrett Syndicates Ltd: HL 25 Jul 1994
Smartphone App Contractors did so as Workers The court was asked whether the employment tribunal was entitled to find that drivers whose work was arranged through Uber’s smartphone application work for Uber under workers’ contracts and so qualify for the national minimum wage, paid annual leave and other workers’ rights; or whether, as Uber contended, … Continue reading Uber Bv and Others v Aslam and Others: SC 19 Feb 2021
Liability in Damages on Statute Breach to be Clear Damages were to be awarded against a Local Authority for breach of statutory duty in a care case only if the statute was clear that damages were capable of being awarded. in the ordinary case a breach of statutory duty does not, by itself, give rise … Continue reading X (Minors) v Bedfordshire County Council; M (A Minor) and Another v Newham London Borough Council; Etc: HL 29 Jun 1995
The applicant was refused a grant of parental leave allowance in 1989. At that time parental leave allowance was available only to mothers. The applicant complained that this violated article 14 taken together with article 8. Held: The application was dismissed. the court noted that, as society moved towards a more equal sharing of responsibilities … Continue reading Petrovic v Austria: ECHR 27 Mar 1998
The claimant complained that the defendant had said in a television programme that he had failed to act properly when presenting his expert forensic evidence in court in the trial of the Birmingham Six. Held: The court should give to the material complained of the natural and ordinary meaning which it would have conveyed to … Continue reading Skuse v Granada Television: CA 30 Mar 1993
The local authority applied for a care order in relation to the child, on the ground that there was an urgent and continuing need for medical treatment which included blood transfusions. The court considered the legal effect of a parent’s belief (as Jehovah’s Witesses) that medical treatment by blood transfusion is forbidden by the Bible … Continue reading Re O (A minor) (Medical Treatment): FD 12 Apr 1993
A statement made by a politician as to his intentions on a particular matter if elected could not create a legitimate expectation as regards the delivery of the promise after elected, even where the promise would directly affect individuals, and the costs of a child’s education. Any consequences of a failure to keep a promise … Continue reading Regina v Department of Education and Employment ex parte Begbie: CA 20 Aug 1999
(Northern Ireland) The deceased solicitor was murdered in his home in 1989, allegedly by loyalists. They had never been identified, though collusion between security forces and a loyalist paramilitary was established. The ECHR and a judge led inquiry had said that a proper investigation was required. A promised inquiry under the 2005 Act was objected … Continue reading Finucane, Re Application for Judicial Review: SC 27 Feb 2019
Duty of Fairness to taxpayer – Written Assurance The applicant was assured by the Inland Revenue that it would not raise further inquiries on certain tax affairs if he agreed to forgo interest relief which he had claimed and to pay a certain sum in capital gains tax. Held: Where the lawfulness of the section … Continue reading Regina v Inland Revenue Commission ex parte Preston; In re Preston: HL 1984
There had been a purported marriage in 1963 between a man and a male to female trans-sexual. Held: Because marriage is essentially a union between a man and a woman, the relationship depended on sex, and not on gender. The law should adopt the chromosomal, gonadal and genital tests. If all three are congruent, that … Continue reading Corbett v Corbett (otherwise Ashley): FD 1 Feb 1970
A decision at committal to return an accused for trial is susceptible to judicial review where committal was based solely on inadmissible evidence or was based on evidence not reasonably capable of supporting it. The committal was quashed.The ‘Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court has normally in judicial review proceedings jurisdiction to quash a … Continue reading Regina v Bedwellty Justices Ex Parte Williams: HL 18 Sep 1996
EAT Transfer of Undertakings – JURISDICTIONAL POINTS – Continuity of employment The transferee employer appealed against a Decision of the Employment Tribunal (‘the ET’) that the employee’s continuity of employment was preserved by section 212(2) of the Employment Rights Act 1996, despite a transfer of the undertaking in which the employee was employed, between a … Continue reading Services for Education (S4E Ltd) v White and Another: EAT 10 Aug 2015
A statement of special education needs stated in Part IV that the child’s mother was to be responsible for providing transport at her own expense. She subsequently became unable to maintain the transport provision due to her personal circumstances and she unsuccessfully sought local authority assistance. Held: A Council deciding on the need for school … Continue reading Regina v London Borough of Havering ex parte ‘K’: Admn 20 Aug 1997
The EAT considered the status of part time lecturers of courses at colleges of higher education. They were employed on fixed term contracts for a term at a time. The court was asked whether, if a contract was not renewed, that amounted to a dismissal. Held: The employees’ appeals succeeded. The claimants had each been … Continue reading Pfaffinger and Another v City of Liverpool Community College and Another: EAT 4 Mar 1996
Closed Material before Supreme Court Under the 2009 order, the appellant Bank had been effectively shut down as to its operations within the UK. It sought to use the appeal procedure, and now objected to the use of closed material procedure. The Supreme Court asked itself whether it was possible for the Supreme Court to … Continue reading Bank Mellat v Her Majesty’s Treasury (No 1): SC 19 Jun 2013
A genuine religious belief which supported the use of corporal punishment in schools was not itself either a manifestation of religious belief which required protection under the convention, or a religious and philosophical conviction for the purposes of the right to education provisions of article 2. A religiously founded belief that corporal punishment should be … Continue reading Regina (Williamson and Others) v Secretary of State for Education and Employment: Admn 15 Nov 2001
The employee had been given twelve weeks notice of redundancy dismissal, and was not required to attend work during the notice period, but then worked additional days. A letter was written in November stating ‘you are given 12 weeks’ notice of dismissal from this company with effect from 5.11.79. You will not be expected to … Continue reading Adams v GKN Sankey Ltd: EAT 1980
EAT Jurisdictional Points : Extension of Time: Reasonably Practicable – Extension of time: just and equitable – FIXED TERM REGULATIONS – Time limits. Employment Judge entitled to conclude that claims under Employment Rights Act 1996 made 5.5 years out of time should not proceed. Even if not reasonably practicable to present them within time, they … Continue reading Stephens v Kingston University Higher Education Corporation: EAT 10 Dec 2013
Parents wanted their children to attend English middle schools in Wales. The Court dealt with the argument that the objective suitability of the nearer school had to be considered by the court on judicial review. Alternatively, it was argued that it was perverse of the LEA to decide that the Welsh school was suitable. As … Continue reading In Re S: CA 1995
A designation of an area as a controlled parking area was vitiated by the failure of the Local Authority to consult locally. The court expanded on the principles for consultation set out in Gunning: ‘What kind and amount of consultation is required in a particular case must depend on the circumstances. A few general principles … Continue reading Regina v Camden London Borough Council Ex Parte Cran and Others: QBD 25 Jan 1995
The claimant had been dismissed from his post as chair of archeology after criticism of his marking practices. Though a report vindicated him, the respondent continued with disciplinary procedures. He claimed unfair dismissal. The EAT had allowed the university’s appeal saying that the found repudiatory breach had been remedied before the resignation. The University now … Continue reading Buckland v Bournemouth University Higher Education Corporation: CA 24 Feb 2010
The claimants sought a declaration that the restriction on the infliction of corporal punishment in schools infringed their human right of freedom of religion. The schools concerned were Christian schools who believed that moderate corporal discipline was required in order to give expression to their religious beliefs. The respondent argued that the beliefs asserted, whilst … Continue reading Regina (Williamson and Others) v Secretary of State for Education and Employment: CA 12 Dec 2002
Exercise of Prerogative Power is Reviewable The House considered an executive decision made pursuant to powers conferred by a prerogative order. The Minister had ordered employees at GCHQ not to be members of trades unions. Held: The exercise of a prerogative power of a public nature may be, subject to constraints of national security and … Continue reading Council of Civil Service Unions v Minister for the Civil Service: HL 22 Nov 1984
The appellants were teachers in Christian schools who said that the blanket ban on corporal punishment interfered with their religious freedom. They saw moderate physical discipline as an essential part of educating children in a Christian manner. Held: The appeal was dismissed. For Article 9 to be engaged (aside from certain other threshold conditions) the … Continue reading Regina v Secretary of State for Education and Employment and others ex parte Williamson and others: HL 24 Feb 2005
The employee complained of his employer’s repeated failure to regrade him, and alleged discrimination. The employer said his claim was out of time. Held: Mummery J made the distinction between single acts of discrimination, and continuing discrimination: ‘the tribunal erred in law in failing to treat the acts complained of on regrading and failure to … Continue reading Owusu v London Fire and Civil Defence Authority: EAT 1 Mar 1995
The applicants, parents of more than 800 Francophone children, living in certain (mostly Dutch-speaking) parts of Belgium, complained that their children were denied access to an education in French. Held: In establishing a system or regime to comply with a Convention obligation, a State may include within the system elements that are not strictly required … Continue reading Relating to certain aspects of the laws on the use of languages in education in Belgium (Belgian Linguistics) No 2: ECHR 9 Feb 1967
Account taken of circumstances wihout ambiguity The respondent gave advice on home income plans. The individual claimants had assigned their initial claims to the scheme, but later sought also to have their mortgages in favour of the respondent set aside. Held: Investors having once assigned their causes of action to the ICS, could not later … Continue reading Investors Compensation Scheme Ltd v West Bromwich Building Society: HL 19 Jun 1997
A non-takeaway restaurant is a supply of services, and a ferry supply was made from its place of business. The supply of prepared food and drink at a restaurant resulted from a whole series of services (including the preparation and service of the meal); and that since restaurant transactions were characterised by a cluster of … Continue reading Faaborg-Gelting Linien v Finanzamt Flensburg: ECJ 2 May 1996
Allowance of Stigma Damages The employees claimed damages, saying that the way in which their employer had behaved during their employment had led to continuing losses, ‘stigma damages’ after the termination. Held: It is an implied term of any contract of employment that the employer shall not without reasonable and proper cause conduct itself in … Continue reading Malik v Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI); Mahmud v Bank of Credit and Commerce International: HL 12 Jun 1997
The House considered whether the long established rule of the criminal law presuming that a child did not have a guilty mind should be set aside. Held: Doli incapax, the presumption of a child’s lack of mens rea, is still effective and good law, but a child is not capable at law without the requisite … Continue reading C (A Minor) v Director of Public Prosecutions: HL 17 Mar 1995
To succeed in a claim for constructive dismissal the plaintiff must establish a breach of contract by the defendant, that the breach was sufficiently serious to have justified the claimant resigning, or at least be the last in a series of events which justified his leaving, and that he left his employment with the defendant … Continue reading Western Excavating (ECC) Ltd v Sharp: CA 1978
Single Sex Schooling failed to prepare for life The Chief Inspector appealed from a decision that it was discriminatory under the 2010 Act to educate girls and boys in the same school but under a system providing effective complete separation of the sexes. Held: The action was discriminatory. However, the scheme operated against individuals, both … Continue reading Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills v The Interim Executive Board of Al-Hijrah School: CA 13 Oct 2017
The claimant asserted unfair dismissal after his contract was changed to provide that his post as head of the history department would be part time. He had been ill, and the head teacher reduced his teaching periods. He accepted the change in writing under protest in order to mitigate his loss. He said that the … Continue reading Hogg v Dover College: EAT 1990
The claimant owned a house by the river Thames at Hedsor Water. Public rights of navigation existed over the Thames from time immemorial, and its management lay with the respondent. Landowners at Hedsor had sought to assert that that stretch was now private. She appealed an order declaring the continued public rights. Held: The applicant … Continue reading Rowland v The Environment Agency: CA 19 Dec 2003
Evidence allowed – Care Application after Abuse Children had made allegations of serious sexual abuse against their step-father. He was acquitted at trial, but the local authority went ahead with care proceedings. The parents appealed against a finding that a likely risk to the children had still been been found. Held: A care order could … Continue reading In re H and R (Minors) (Child Sexual Abuse: Standard of Proof): HL 14 Dec 1995
Employment Tribunals to Provide Sufficient Reasons Tribunals, when giving their decisions, are required to do no more than to make clear their findings of fact and to answer any question of law raised. Bingham LJ said: ‘It has on a number of occasions been made plain that the decision of an Industrial Tribunal is not … Continue reading Meek v City of Birmingham District Council: CA 18 Feb 1987
Silent telephone calls which resulted in psychiatric damage to the victim could constitute an ‘assault occasioning actual bodily harm’ for the purposes of section 47 of the 1861 Act. Swinton Thomas LJ said: ‘The early cases pre-date the invention of . .
The Times newspaper published a report of the criminal trial in Switzerland of a British subject. When sued in defamation they sought to rely upon the defence of fair reporting of judicial proceedings.
Held: A blanket protection for reporting . .
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The student had been unlawfully excluded from school. The school had not complied with the procedural requirements imposed by the Act. Held: Though the 1996 Act placed the responsibilty for exclusion upon the local authority, the head and school must also follow the rules. The duty on the local authority was a fallback duty. The … Continue reading Ali v The Head Teacher and Governors of Lord Grey School: CA 29 Mar 2004
The child sought review of the respondent’s decision not to provide education other than at one school. He had been suspended, but his father refused to allow him to return complaining of the effects of bullying. Held: The condition of being bullied, including its effects could not be equated with ‘illness’ as a valid reason … Continue reading Regina on the Application of G v Westminster City Council: QBD 30 Jan 2004
Mr Justice Cavanagh [2020] EWHC 2916 (Admin) Bailii Education Act 1996 19(1) England and Wales Education Updated: 14 January 2022; Ref: scu.655426
The applicants sought asylum. Their child had a right of residence as a European citizen. Held: The applicants could not rely upon their child’s right of residence to establish one for themselves. Judges: Lord Justice Keene Lord Justice May Lord Justice Wall Citations: Times 07-Jun-2006, [2006] EWCA Civ 484 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales … Continue reading Ali v Secretary of State for the Home Department: CA 3 May 2006
The claimant had been awarded damages for unfair constructive dismissal. The employer appealed an award of damages for the period prior to the acceptance by the employee of the repudiatory breach. Held: Where a claimant’s losses arose before the dismissal actually occurred, she might have a separate claim for damages, but that claim was only … Continue reading GAB Robins (UK) Ltd v Triggs: CA 30 Jan 2008
Parents challenged changes to arrangements for transport of eligible children to and from school. Judges: Sales J Citations: [2013] EWHC 579 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: Education Act 1996 508B Jurisdiction: England and Wales Education, Benefits Updated: 14 November 2022; Ref: scu.471758
UTIAC 1. Azerbaijan is a country with high levels of corruption and there is clear evidence that political dissent is not tolerated.2. There is nothing to indicate that the State would in any way penalise unmarried mothers (approximately 10% of mothers) or those who have mixed race children. There are in place some support mechanisms … Continue reading SL (Unmarried Mother With Mixed Race Child) Azerbaijan CG: UTIAC 15 Feb 2013
Judicial review was sought of the changes to the marking systems for GCSE English in 2012. Held: The claim failed. Though properly brought, the failure was in the underlying structue of the qualification, and not in the respondent’s attempts to manage it.No legitimate expectation had been created, and indeed public documentation was contrary to the … Continue reading London Borough of Lewisham and Others), Regina (on The Application of) v Assessment and Qualifications Alliance and Others: Admn 13 Feb 2013
The claimant sought damages. The respondent had acted as an adoption agency but had failed to disclose all relevant information about the child. Held: Any such duty extended only during the period where the child was with the prospective adopters pending their decision on adoption. Hale LJ: ‘Whenever the question of a common law duty … Continue reading A and Another v Essex County Council: CA 17 Dec 2003
The court was asked about the age at which entitlement to a pension began for someone of transgender. Held: The court was divided, and the issue was referred to the European Court of Justice. Judges: Lady Hale, Deputy President, Lord Wilson, Lord Sumption, Lord Toulson, Lord Hodge Citations: [2016] UKSC 53, UKSC 2014/0220 Links: Bailii, … Continue reading MB v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: SC 5 Jul 2016
The claimant who required support from the Council for his ADHD disorder challenged the respondent’s budget insofar as it limited support for children’s services in the Revenue Budget. Ge said that in making its decision to cut the budget, the Council unlawfully failed to comply either with (i) its obligations under section 507B of the … Continue reading Hunt v North Somerset Council: Admn 18 Jul 2012
The claimant had been dismissed for gross misconduct. As a teacher he had drunk alcohol at school, and taken a bottle of wine. His complaint of unfair dismissal had been dismissed, and he appealed that decision, saying the school had departed from proper procedures, that the panels had been chosen in contravention of procedures, and … Continue reading Atkin v The Grove Primary School and Another: EAT 15 Nov 2001
The applicants, a same sex couple sought the right to marry. Held: The application failed. Same-sex couples are in a relevantly similar situation to different-sex couples as regards their need for legal recognition and protection of their relationship, although since practice in this regard is still evolving across Europe, the Contracting States enjoy a wide … Continue reading Schalk and Kopf v Austria: ECHR 22 Nov 2010
The father sought a specific issue order for the immunisation of his child in particular with the MMR vaccine. The mother opposed all immunisation. Held: Whether a child was to be refused immunisation was an issue on which both parents should be involved. ‘the present case is seen not as some significant novelty requiring guidance … Continue reading B (A Child); Re C (Welfare of Child: Immunisation): CA 30 Jul 2003
The employee was a transsexual, awaiting completion of surgical transformation to a woman. The employer said she could not use the female toilet facilities, but was offered use of the unisex disabled facilities. Held: The 1975 Act provides for a category of persons who are not to be discriminated against. By virtue of the definition … Continue reading Croft v Royal Mail Group Plc (formerly Consignia Group plc): CA 18 Jul 2003
The claimant challenged dismissal of his claim of having suffered an unfair detriment having made a disclosure with regard to his employers. The employers had said that as a constable, his employment was outside the scope of the Act, and the decision of the Police disciplinary Board could not found his claim. Held: the paragraph … Continue reading Lake v British Transport Police: CA 5 May 2007
Education, Health and Care Plan – whether placement at mainstream community secondary school lawful – whether First-Tier Tribunal made fundamental errors of fact/failed to take relevant evidence into account – whether procedural unfairness – whether balancing exercise under s.9 Education Act 1996 carried out properly. Citations: [2020] UKUT 329 (AAC) Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and … Continue reading BK, AK v Hackney London Borough Council: UTAA 24 Nov 2020
The applicants, intending university students, challenged the decision to raise to andpound;9,000 per annum, the fees which might be charged by qualifying universities.Elias LJ said: ‘Contrary to a submission advanced by Ms Mountfield, I do not accept that this means that it is for the court to determine whether appropriate weight has been given to … Continue reading Hurley and Moore, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills: Admn 17 Feb 2012
Judges: Lord Neuberger MR, Richards, Davis LJJ Citations: [2012] EWCA Civ 346 Links: Bailii Statutes: Education Act 1996 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Education Updated: 05 October 2022; Ref: scu.452196
Land had been acquired by a deed under the 1841 Act, but had in 1995 ceased to be used as a school ‘for the education of children and adults of the labouring manufacturing and other poorer classes . . And for no other purpose ‘. Under the Act, the land would revert to the claimants … Continue reading Fraser and Another v Canterbury Diocesan Board of Finance and others: HL 27 Oct 2005
EAT TRANSFER OF UNDERTAKINGS – Varying terms of employmentThe Employment Judge was entitled to hold that the agreed variation of the Claimants’ salary was not for a reason connected with a relevant TUPE transfer more than two years earlier and was not in order to achieve harmonisation of all employees’ salaries. Judges: McMullen QC J … Continue reading Smith and Others v Trustees of Brooklands College: EAT 5 Sep 2011
renewed application for permission to appeal – SEN assessment Citations: [2001] EWCA Civ 820 Links: Bailii Statutes: Education Act 1996 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Education Updated: 14 September 2022; Ref: scu.218187
Education Act 1996, section 9 – factors to be taken into account in balancing exercise – whether wider health care and social benefits to be taken into account when deciding whether additional public expenditure is unreasonable – K v Hillingdon LBC (SEN) [2011] UKUT 71 (AAC); [2011] AACR 31 and KE v Lancashire CC (SEN) … Continue reading London Borough of Croydon v K-A (SEN): UTAA 20 Apr 2022
The issue in this case was whether there is a right of appeal to the Upper Tribunal against a review decision of the Special Educational Needs Tribunal for Wales. The Upper Tribunal decides that there is a right of appeal, which is not the case for review decisions of the First-tier Tribunal. The application of … Continue reading AB v Newport City Council: UTAA 28 Jun 2022
The claimant challenged the scheme set out for procurement when making arrangements with a sponsor for establishing a school as an Academy school. . The main ground of challenge was that the procurement did not comply with the Public Contracts Regulations 2006. Held: Arden LJ dismissed that ground substantively. She went on, however, to consider … Continue reading Chandler, Regina (On the Application of) v Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families: CA 9 Oct 2009
Grand Chamber – The first applicant said he had been injured by a shot fired by a British soldier who had been carried for two miles into the Republic of Ireland, clinging to the applicant’s vehicle following an incident at a checkpoint. Held: Rules granting the State immunities, did not infringe the applicants’ right to … Continue reading McElhinney v Ireland; Al-Adsani v United Kingdom; Fogarty v United Kingdom: ECHR 21 Nov 2001
When offering courses to distance learning students, the College offered materials for the courses. As part of the course this supply would be exempt, as books, the supply would be zero-rated, but the taxpayer would be able to reclaim its VAT inputs. Held: ‘There clearly was a separate supply of goods, namely the printed material … Continue reading College of Estate Management v Commissioners of Customs and Excise: CA 11 Aug 2004
EAT JURISDICTIONAL POINTS – Working outside the jurisdiction The Claimants were wives of service personnel working at NATO headquarters in Belgium and in the Netherlands – Because of that status they were eligible for, and they obtained, employment in schools attached to those headquarters – They were dismissed when their husbands’ service came to an … Continue reading Ministry of Defence v Wallis and Another: EAT 30 Jul 2010
The applicant, an 8 year old boy, became part of his Indian family who lived in England, through an adoption recognised in Indian Law, but not in English Law. Though the adoption was genuine, his family ties had not been broken in India. The family resisted an order for his return to India. Held: The … Continue reading Singh v Entry Clearance Officer New Delhi: CA 30 Jul 2004
EAT JURISDICTIONAL POINTS VICTIMISATION DISCRIMINATION: Protected disclosure The central question in this appeal was whether an employee/worker who complained of suffering a detriment from his current employer on the ground that he had made a protected disclosure could claim where that disclosure had been made not whilst employed by his current employer but whilst employed … Continue reading BP Plc v Elstone and Another: EAT 31 Mar 2010
Challenge to statement of special educational needs. Judges: Sedle, Smith, Elias LJJ Citations: [2010] EWCA Civ 135, [2010] ELR 312 Links: Bailii Statutes: Education Act 1996 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Education Updated: 15 August 2022; Ref: scu.402937
A school board employed staff to manage a residential school for vulnerable children. The staff committed sexual abuse of the children. The school denied vicarious liability for the acts of the teachers. Held: ‘Vicarious liability is legal responsibility imposed on an employer, although he is himself free from blame, for a tort committed by his … Continue reading Lister and Others v Hesley Hall Ltd: HL 3 May 2001
The parties disputed whether Mr Smith had been an employee of or worker with the company so as to bring associated rights into play. The contract required the worker to provide an alternate worker to cover if necessary. Held: The company’s appeal failed. Mr Smith was a worker: ‘there were features of the contract which … Continue reading Pimlico Plumbers Ltd and Another v Smith: SC 13 Jun 2018
Solicitor Firm Member was a Protected Worker The solicitor appellant had been a member of the firm, a limited liability partnership. She disclosed criminal misbehaviour by a partner in a branch in Africa. On dismissal she sought protection as a whistleblower. This was rejected, it being found that a member of such a firm was … Continue reading Clyde and Co LLP and Another v van Winkelhof: SC 21 May 2014
Twins were conjoined (Siamese). Medically, both could not survive, and one was dependent upon the vital organs of the other. Doctors applied for permission to separate the twins which would be followed by the inevitable death of one of them. The parents, devout Roman Catholics, resisted. Held: The parents’ views were subject to the overriding … Continue reading In Re A (Minors) (Conjoined Twins: Medical Treatment); aka In re A (Children) (Conjoined Twins: Surgical Separation): CA 22 Sep 2000
The various claimants sought to challenge the 2004 Act by way of judicial review on the grounds that it was ‘a disproportionate, unnecessary and illegitimate interference with their rights to choose how they conduct their lives, and with market freedoms protected by European law; and an unjust interference with economic rights.’ Held: ‘We have concluded … Continue reading Countryside Alliance and others v HM Attorney General and others: Admn 29 Jul 2005
Citations: [2013] EWCA Civ 57 Links: Bailii Statutes: Education Act 1996 507 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Education, Local Government Updated: 28 July 2022; Ref: scu.470934
The applicant owned a bus company whose contract with the local education authority for the provision of school bus services was terminated after the disclosure by the police and the social services department of a past investigation into an allegation of indecent assault on the applicant’s daughter and of an earlier allegation of abuse when … Continue reading Regina v Local Authority and Police Authority in the Midlands ex parte LM: 2000
Challenge to authority’s decision not to support child with special educational needs. Citations: [2008] EWCA Civ 661 Links: Bailii Statutes: Education Act 1996 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Education Updated: 17 July 2022; Ref: scu.269724
A schoolgirl complained that she had been excluded from school for wearing a form of attire which accorded with her Muslim beliefs. Held: The school had made great efforts to establish what forms of wear were acceptable within the moslem community, and set uniform standards accordingly. However sincere her religious beliefs, the claimant had chosen … Continue reading Begum, Regina (on the Application of) v Denbigh High School: Admn 15 Jun 2004
Citations: [2000] EWHC Admin 295 Links: Bailii Statutes: Education Act 1996 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Education Updated: 13 July 2022; Ref: scu.140109
The court was asked whether the weight-watchers program which included attendance at a course and a supply of supporting materials was one single standard-rated supply or separate supplies of zero-rated printed materials and standard-rated support services. Held: The court asked whether if the tribunal was mistaken as to the law the court should overrule the … Continue reading HM Revenue and Customs v Weight Watchers (UK) Ltd: ChD 21 Jan 2008
The local authority had in the statement of special educational needs specified a school in accordance with the parent’s choice, but on condition that the parents were to be responsible for the cost of transport to and from school. Held: The authority’s appeal against an order that it should pay for the transport succeeded. The … Continue reading M, Regina (on the Application of) v Sutton London Borough Council: CA 21 Nov 2007
The claimants had been detained under the 1971 Act, after completing sentences of imprisonment pending their return to their home countries under deportations recommended by the judges at trial, or chosen by the respondent. They challenged as unlawful the respondent’s, at first unpublished, policy introduced in 2006, that by default, those awaiting deportation should be … Continue reading Lumba (WL) v Secretary of State for The Home Department: SC 23 Mar 2011
(Northern Ireland) The applicant sought judicial review of a decision not to disclose documents held by the respondent to him saying that the refusal was disproportionate and infringed his human rights. The respondents said that the documents were provided on an assurance of confidentiality. Held: Disclosure rules are different in judicial review proceedings since such … Continue reading Tweed v Parades Commission for Northern Ireland: HL 13 Dec 2006
EAT Practice and Procedure: Restriction of Proceedings Order/Vexatious Litigant Litigant had brought forty claims for (mainly) race discrimination against higher education institutions, trade unions and others and had made over forty appeals to EAT and been repeatedly criticised for way in which those proceedings and appeals had been conducted. Held: To have habitually and persistently … Continue reading Her Majesty’s Attorney General v Deman: EAT 1 Sep 2006
The claimant sought to establish that as a male employee, he had suffered sex discrimination in that he lost rights to redundancy pay after the age of retirement where a woman might not. Held: The appeal was dismised. There were very few people affected by the provisions, and provisions were on their face non-dicriminatory. Was … Continue reading Secretary of State for Trade and Industry v Rutherford and others: HL 3 May 2006
The parties had challenged the respondent’s decision not to provide free transport to school. The judge granted certificates allowing leave to apply direct to the House of Lords on two issues, and to the Court of Appeal on one other. The House later decided only to allow an appeal on terms unacceptable to the council. … Continue reading Jones and others v Ceredigion County Council: CA 28 Jul 2005
The claimant had dual Irish and US nationality. He therefore also was a citizen of the EU. He complained that the British rules against payment of job seekers’ allowance were discriminatory. The matter had already been to the ECJ. Held: The residence test as applied was not in contravention of EU law. ‘[T]he proper interpretation … Continue reading Collins v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: CA 4 Apr 2006
The claimant had been accused with others of arson to school property. He was suspended for the maximum forty five day period. The school then invited the family to discuss arrangements to return to the school, but the family did not attend. After the expiry of the forty five days, the criminal proceedings were discontinued. … Continue reading Ali v Head Teacher and Governors of Lord Grey School: HL 22 Mar 2006
The college supplied educational services by distance learning. The commissioner sought to argue that printe daterials supplied with the course were ancillary and did not have the same exemption form VAT. Held: The supplies did benefit from the exemption. The attempt to separate out the supply of prnted course materials was articifial and inconvincing. The … Continue reading College of Estate Management v Customs and Excise: HL 20 Oct 2005
The claimant said that his employer had failed to respect his right to express his beliefs by obliging him, though a Christian, to work on Sundays. Held: The appeal failed. ‘The Commission’s position on Article 9, as I understand it, is that, so far as working hours are concerned, an employer is entitled to keep … Continue reading Copsey v WWB Devon Clays Ltd: CA 25 Jul 2005
A 15-year-old girl did not go to school because she was bullied there and her mother kept her away. Held: the mother had failed to meet her duties under the Act. Judges: Davis J Citations: [2005] EWHC 1479 (Admin), [2005] ELR 589 Links: Bailii Statutes: Education Act 1996 444 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: … Continue reading R, Regina (on the Application of) v Leeds Magistrates Court and others: Admn 28 Jun 2005
The Borough appealed against acquittal by the magistrates of the defendant parent accused of failure to ensure the regular attendance of their child at school. The child had attended only irregularly. The parents had contacted the school and authorities and sought help and co-opertaed with the Borough, but their daughter had been unco-operative and eventually … Continue reading London Borough of Sutton v S: Admn 26 Oct 2004
The applicant, a Muslim girl sought to be allowed to wear the gilbab to school. The school policy which had been approved by Muslim clerics prohibited this, saying the shalwar kameeze and headscarf were sufficient. The school said she was making a voluntary choice not to attend. Held: The applicant was not choosing to stay … Continue reading SB, Regina (on the Application of) v Denbigh High School: CA 2 Mar 2005
The claimant sought damages in negligence from education officers employed by the respondent. He appealed refusal of his claim. A statement of special education needs had been made which he said did not address his learning difficulties. The authority, relying on Gorringe, said it was fulfilling a purely statutory duty. Held: Courts had not previously … Continue reading Carty v London Borough of Croydon: CA 27 Jan 2005
The claimant’s husband died when his car skidded on hoar frost. She claimed the respondent was liable under the Act and at common law for failing to keep it safe. Held: The respondent had not assumed a general responsibility to all road users to ensure that all or any trunk roads would be salted in … Continue reading Jane Marianne Sandhar, John Stuart Murray v Department of Transport, Environment and the Regions: CA 5 Nov 2004
The applicant questioned the compatibility of s185 of the 1996 Act with Human Rights law. The family sought emergency housing. The child of the family, found to be in priority housing need, was subject also to immigration control. Though the matter had been settled the court was invited to pursue the decision. Held: The Act … Continue reading Morris, Regina (on the Application of) v Westminster City Council and Another: Admn 7 Oct 2004
When an appeal was lodged against the decision of the Special Educational Needs Tribunal, it was wrong for that Tribunal later to expand on its reasons, save in exceptional circumstances. Parental preference was not an overriding consideration, given the possible substantial costs of providing education in a special school. The tribunal must strike a balance, … Continue reading Oxfordshire County Council v GB and Others: CA 22 Aug 2001
