‘Swinging at Ghosts in Straw Houses’ – an Update on Higher Education Litigation
Higher Education Providers (HEPs) continue to face pressures, which are now considerably broader than concerns over the quality of educational services. Questions of human rights have now entered the fray, with a significant increase in HEPs seeking injunctions against ‘persons unknown’ to prevent assembly and protest, as well as taking other steps that could limit freedom of expression – all against the backdrop of ongoing accusations that HEPs are failing to support students as part of their delivery of education. Christopher Coyle presented an overview of the different avenues for challenging HEPs via the courts and developments in litigation relating to HEPs, encompassing: judicial review and general claims; issues of free speech and assembly; reasonable adjustments and discrimination under the Equality Act 2010; as well as consumer rights and rationality in contractual and public body decision-making.
The 1st and 3rd place entrants in the ELAS inaugural essay competition, Eu King Tan and Zarina Ilieva, were also presented with their certificates by Satnam Virdi, chair of ELAS.
Photographs from the event are below.
Guest Speaker:
Christopher Coyle is a senior junior barrister at No5 Barristers’ Chambers who specialises primarily in education law, administrative / public law, commercial and property work. Christopher has special expertise in cases concerning HEPs, the Secretary of State / Department for Education, regulatory and assessment bodies, and various ombudsmen.
