A landmark case challenging the lack of legal aid for parents who question permanent exclusions could be “transformative in holding schools to account”, lawyers claim.
But it could also lead to a rise in challenges and leave schools feeling the need to pay for their own legal counsel.
High Court judges have granted permission for a test case arguing parents should get access to public funding to challenge exclusions that are potentially discriminatory.
At present parents cannot claim legal aid for independent review panel (IRP) hearings, which consider a governing board’s decision not to reinstate an excluded pupil.
