Amy Woolfson, instructed on a direct access basis, successfully assisted the family of a student ordered to leave a major public school on disciplinary grounds.
Following an investigation, the Head determined that the student had been involved in serious bullying of younger students. The Head ordered that the student be required to leave the school. As an education barrister, Amy guided the family through the school’s complaint’s process, preparing detailed written submissions at each stage.
The case came before an independent panel who upheld all of Amy’s submissions about procedural fairness, the quality of the evidence, and the proportionality of the Head’s decision. The panel also expressed concerns about previous investigations at the school, recommending that teaching and pastoral staff adopt a more enquiring mindset when faced with apparent student misconduct.
The student has now been fully reinstated at the school, and the disciplinary matters set aside.
Fee-paying schools are required by law to have a complaints process including recourse to an independent panel. Furthermore, contract law requires minimum standards of fairness to be observed.
Amy Woolfson is a barrister with experience in guiding families through student misconduct allegations, securing excellent results whilst keeping conflict to a minimum.
Amy has extensive experience of professional discipline and regulatory cases. She acts for regulators and regulated persons in cases concerning criminal convictions, lack of competence, and misconduct – including serious sexual misconduct.
