Education

"Insightful and pragmatic" is what sources say in relation to the advice we provide to the education sector according to Chambers UK, A Client’s Guide to the Legal Profession 2010.  The Guide also rates Cleaver Fulton Rankin as top tier.

We have a long history of providing a wide range of services to the education sector encompassing all the areas of expertise noted below:

  • Employment and equality law
  • Property
  • Planning and environmental law
  • Dispute resolution
  • Regulatory and legislative frameworks

Each member of our cross departmental team has a particular focus on the education sector providing a wealth of expertise, in effect, "a one stop shop" for education.  This sector remains turbulent with considerable and regular media interest over the last year focusing upon:

  • the issues of academic selection for 11 year olds
  • the establishment of the Education Skills Authority ("ESA") as the replacement body for the five Education and Library Boards following the Review of Public Administration.  However, the establishment date of 1 January 2010 has been delayed for the time being
  • schools coming under increasing pressure in terms of funding with voluntary grammar schools facing the withdrawal of funding for their preparatory schools
  • voluntary grammar schools are also under pressure in view of the implications of the Charities Act (NI) 2008

As well as these areas we advise on a range of other matters including:

  • advising Titanic Quarter Limited as the successful bidder in the Belfast Metropolitan College PPP at Titanic Quarter, Belfast. The project reached financial close in April 2009
  • acting for a College in a claim of disability discrimination before the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal.
  • advising in relation to fights between pupils in school and the disciplinary procedures to be applied, to include corresponding with parents
  • advising in relation to a teacher called as a witness in relation to a pupil's personal injury claim
  • advising the Governors in relation to liabilities attached to a company limited by a guarantee regarding setting up of transfer tests
  • advising on a number of property matters including a boundary dispute, licensing arrangements and various other property transactions
  • advised the school in relation to a letter of complaint from the parent of a pupil who failed the admission test

Clients include: Bloomfield Collegiate School, Methodist College, Belfast High School, The Royal School Armagh, North West Regional College and The Open University.