3PB Barristers Call us: 0330 332 2633 Barristers Clerks Expertise Locations Direct Access Education Pre-eminent specialist education barristers for institutions and parents Our 3PB education law barristers represent parents, pupils, schools and their governing bodies (both from the maintained and the independent sectors), academies, universities and colleges, NGOs including charities, students, teaching and academic staff and local authorities in education law. In relation to schools and academies, the team has particular expertise in Appeals to the first-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability) (‘SEND Tribunal’) concerning statements of special education needs and education-related disability discrimination claims at all levels, including but not limited to SEND Tribunal proceedings and Independent Review Panel proceedings within the context of school exclusions. The team also handles Upper Tribunal Appeals arising from decisions of the SEND Tribunal. The team routinely handles claims against schools and academies for all other forms of discrimination - for example in county court, employment tribunal proceedings and before specialist regulatory tribunals - and frequently advises and represents on school admissions and exclusion/reinstatement appeals before independent panels. The team has an outstanding record in judicial review proceedings arising from decisions of local authorities or independent panels. Our casework increasingly covers advisory work and disputes arising from exam results, school complaints procedures, attendance issues, school closures and re-organisations as well as issues of governance and funding. Our barristers act on breach of contract claims concerning independent schools and education negligence claims and other damages claims arising at schools and academies. The 2020 pandemic has seen us advise specifically on video hearings in the SENDIST, judicial reviews, the impact on private schools, special education provision, A-Level, GCSE and Btec exam results, redundancy and the furlough scheme and flaws in the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Bill. As a specialist education law chambers we routinely accept direct access instructions from higher education and further education institutions, individuals and schools, academies and colleges/universities and are also able to provide legal assessors to advise and support independent lay panels dealing with a wide range of educational issues. The Legal 500 2021 describes "3PB is an 'excellent set with strength-in-depth' in the education field with members described as 'approachable and committed'; and "A set that is 'increasingly becoming a powerhouse in education law'". Team members are available to work from any of our six offices in London, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Oxford and Winchester; we also offer state-of-the-art technology for remote meetings. Practice Director Chris Mitchell is assisted by Tom Cox and Gemma Faulkner. Specialist Areas Discrimination claims Independent School, Academy and Free School governance and regulation Judicial Review and Statutory Appeals Ofsted and CQC regulation Professional disciplinary Professional negligence and contractual claims Safeguarding, CRB, DBS disclosure issues School admissions and exclusions Special Educational Needs and Disability Discrimination Head of Team Charlotte Hadfield Email: charlotte.hadfield@3pb.co.uk Telephone: 020 7583 8055 Practice Director Chris Mitchell Email: chris.mitchell@3pb.co.uk Telephone: 020 7583 8055 Practice Manager Tom Cox Email: tom.cox@3pb.co.uk Telephone: 0117 928 1520 Read our Recommendations Our Education Barristers... Barrister search: Sort By Seniority Alphabetically Sub Expertise Area All Discrimination claims Independent School, Academy and Free School governance Judicial Review and Statutory Appeals Ofsted and CQC regulation Professional disciplinary Professional negligence and contractual claims Safeguarding, CRB, DBS disclosure issues School admissions and exclusions Special Educational Needs and Disability Discrimination Door Tenants and Pupils are marked by the DT and P symbols. Junior Counsel John Friel Call: 1974 View CV Add to Shortlist Lachlan Wilson Call: 1996 View CV Add to Shortlist Charlotte Hadfield Call: 1999 View CV Add to Shortlist Katherine Anderson Call: 2005 View CV Add to Shortlist Caroline Stone Call: 2005 View CV Add to Shortlist Sarah Bowen Call: 2006 View CV Add to Shortlist Aimee Fox Call: 2007 View CV Add to Shortlist Jennifer Agyekum Call: 2009 View CV Add to Shortlist Emma Waldron Call: 2011 View CV Add to Shortlist Alice de Coverley Call: 2014 View CV Add to Shortlist Matthew Wyard Call: 2014 View CV Add to Shortlist Naomi Webber Call: 2017 View CV Add to Shortlist Jim Hirschmann Call: 2018 View CV Add to Shortlist Alex Leonhardt Call: 2018 View CV Add to Shortlist Latest News all news 22 Nov 2021 December education law newsletter - out now! Read more > 1 Nov 2021 Matthew Wyard counsels schools about data protection risks Read more > Articles all articles 26 Oct 2021 Data protection for schools and higher education institutions Matthew Wyard highlights the rights of access to data from schools and colleges and specifically... Read more > 2 Apr 2021 Alice de Coverley and Alex Leonhardt analyse how the tricky, balancing questions around children’s rights, school uniforms and school discipline have... Read more > Seminars all seminars There are currently no seminars available for this practice area, please sign-up to our mailing list if you would like to be notified of upcoming seminars when they are made available. Recommendations Legal 500 2021 3PB is an 'excellent set with strength-in-depth' in the education field with members described as 'approachable and committed'. "A set that is 'increasingly becoming a powerhouse in education law'" The team has a total of 9 barrister rankings, including 7 in London where the team is listed in Tier 4, one in the Midlands and one in Wales and Chester. Legal 500 2020 3PB has a 'strong education practice', where it 'offers a good choice of counsel'. Its members are 'efficient, friendly, and expert in their field'. Charlotte Hadfield acted for an interested party in an application for judicial review of a refusal to carry out an assessment of an individual's education needs. Aimee Fox successfully represented a local authority in a major judicial review on the application of section 19(1) of the Education Act 1996. "The combined clerks’ room across the set’s six offices is a ‘well-oiled machine’." Chambers UK 2021 - Band 3 3PB Barristers is a well-regarded set with a growing presence in the education sector. Members are experienced in the handling of a broad range of matters, including school admissions and exclusions, special educational needs and discrimination claims. The team also offers expertise in disciplinary matters arising in the higher education sector. The set's varied client base encompasses several education institutions, such as schools, universities and academies, as well as pupils, governing bodies and NGOs, and its barristers regularly appear before the First-tier Tribunal, Upper-tier Tribunal and the Court of Appeal. Client service: "The clerks are very user-friendly, open, engaging and extremely accommodating. They will always try to find someone for you." "The clerks are all very helpful and will go out of their way to deal with enquiries." "The clerking team really go the extra mile for their clients." Chris Mitchell directs practice management at the set and is ably assisted by Tom Cox and Gemma Faulkner for education work. Chambers UK 2020 - Band 3 3PB Barristers is noted for its expert handling of a wide range of education disputes. Its members act for a varied client list which includes governing bodies, schools, pupils, local authorities and parents. The team is called upon to act for and advise on matters arising across all levels of the education system, and offers expertise in special education needs, school exclusions and both pupil discipline and professional discipline matters. The set's tenants are also regularly instructed in complex discrimination claims, and have experience appearing before the Court of Appeal, as well as the Upper Tribunal and the Administrative Court. Client service: "The clerks are very efficient, helpful and quick to respond to queries." "The clerks offer a very good service. They're so responsive and ensure that instructions and papers get to counsel without delay." Chris Mitchell directs practice management at the set and is ably assisted by Tom Cox and Gemma Faulkner for Education work. Our Locations London: 020 7583 8055 | 3 Paper Buildings, Temple, London, EC4Y 7EU Birmingham: 0121 289 4333 | Colmore Building, 20 Colmore Circus, Queensway, Birmingham, B4 6AT Bournemouth: 01202 292 102 | 30 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH1 3PD Bristol: 0117 928 1520 | Royal Talbot House, 2 Victoria Street, Bristol, BS1 6BB Oxford: 01865 793 736 | 23 Beaumont Street, Oxford, OX1 2NP Winchester: 01962 868 884 | 4 St Peter Street, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 8BW 3PB Barristers © 3PB 2021 Disclaimer Privacy Notice Complaints Procedure Terms of Business Regulated by the Bar Standards Board Website by Jask Creative Cookie Control