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Education Law Solicitors

Education decisions — exclusion, EHCP refusals, admissions failures, and university appeals — have serious long-term consequences for children and young people. A solicitor who specialises in education law understands how to challenge those decisions effectively.

Education law covers the legal rights of children and young people in the education system — from the duty of local authorities to identify and support children with special educational needs, to the rights of parents to challenge school exclusion, admissions, and disability discrimination decisions. SEND law, school exclusion law, and the Equality Act 2010 create a detailed framework of rights — and independent panels, SEND Tribunals, and judicial review provide the legal mechanisms for challenge. A solicitor will advise on the specific legal right at issue, manage the appeal or challenge, and represent the family at the relevant tribunal or hearing.

SEND & EHCP legal support School exclusion & admissions appeals Disability discrimination in education Free initial consultation

Education Law Services

Every education law issue — from EHCP to university appeal — select the area that matches your situation.

SEN & EHCP Support

EHCP requests refused, inadequate EHCPs, placements denied, annual review disputes — specialist legal support throughout the SEND Tribunal process.

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School Exclusion

Fixed-period and permanent school exclusions — parent rights to challenge, governors' meetings, independent review panels, and reinstatement appeals.

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School Admissions Appeal

School place refused — independent appeal panel process, admissions criteria challenges, and oversubscription criteria grounds of appeal.

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Disability Discrimination in Education

Schools' duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled pupils under the Equality Act 2010 — SENDIST claims and discrimination in education challenges.

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Attendance Prosecution

School attendance prosecution under s.444 Education Act 1996 — defending parents facing fines and criminal proceedings for their child's absence from school.

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University Dispute & Academic Appeal

University disciplinary proceedings, degree result appeals, fitness to practise hearings, and student complaints — legal support at each stage of the university's processes.

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How It Works

Education decisions are made quickly but their consequences last. A solicitor with expertise in education law intervenes at the right moment — challenging the decision while the appeal window is open and the outcome is still achievable.

A solicitor will advise on the legal rights that apply to the specific education situation, manage the appeal or challenge process, and represent the family at the relevant independent panel, SEND Tribunal, or court.

Submit Your Request
1

Tell us about the education situation

Describe the child or young person's situation — the school, the local authority, the decision, and how far the process has progressed.

2

Solicitor advises on rights and next steps

An education law solicitor identifies the legal rights that apply, advises on the prospects of a successful challenge, and sets out the most effective route to the outcome needed.

3

Free initial consultation

You receive clear advice on the education law issue and the options available — at no cost and no obligation.

Free Initial Consultation

Every child has legal rights in the education system. A solicitor ensures those rights are understood, asserted, and enforced — from EHCP disputes to school exclusion appeals.

Get specialist education law advice — and find out how to challenge the school or local authority decision that is affecting your child's future.

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Common Questions

Education law — what people ask us.

What is the SEND Tribunal and who can use it?

The First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability) — commonly called the SEND Tribunal or SENDIST — hears appeals by parents and young people against decisions made by local authorities in England about EHCP assessment, the content of EHCPs, and the educational placement specified. Parents can appeal to the tribunal where the local authority refuses to carry out an EHCP assessment, decides not to issue an EHCP after assessment, fails to maintain or review the EHCP, specifies an inappropriate educational provision, or names an educational placement the parents disagree with. A solicitor will advise on the grounds of appeal, prepare the case, and represent the family at the tribunal hearing.

Can I challenge a school's decision to permanently exclude my child?

Yes — parents have the right to challenge a permanent exclusion. The first stage is a governors' meeting — the school's governing body must meet within 15 school days of the headteacher's exclusion decision and consider whether to uphold or overturn the exclusion. If the governors uphold the exclusion, parents can request an Independent Review Panel (IRP) hearing — the IRP can uphold the exclusion, recommend the governors reconsider, or quash the exclusion. A solicitor will prepare the grounds for the governors' meeting and the IRP hearing — presenting the evidence that the exclusion was disproportionate, procedurally incorrect, or discriminatory.

My child was refused a place at the school we applied for. How do I appeal?

Where a school place application is refused, parents have a statutory right to appeal to an independent appeal panel. The appeal must be made within 20 school days of the refusal letter. The appeal panel considers whether the admission authority applied its admission criteria correctly and, if so, whether the prejudice to the school from admitting an additional child outweighs the prejudice to the child from not being admitted. For selective schools, the panel also considers whether the child meets the selection criteria. A solicitor will review the admissions criteria, identify any errors in their application, and prepare the appeal — presenting the case for the child's admission compellingly.

What legal duties do schools have towards disabled pupils?

Schools have a duty under the Equality Act 2010 not to discriminate against disabled pupils — including a specific duty to make reasonable adjustments to ensure disabled pupils are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled pupils. This includes physical adjustments (ramps, accessible facilities), adjustments to policies and procedures (exam arrangements, timetabling), and auxiliary aids and services (communication support, specialist equipment). Failure to make a reasonable adjustment is unlawful disability discrimination — regardless of the school's intention. A solicitor will advise on whether the school has met its duty to make reasonable adjustments and bring a claim to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability) where it has not.

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