Richard Freeth

Career

Richard has over 23 years’ experience in advising schools and local authorities on a wide range of education issues including admissions, exclusions, SEN, disability discrimination and other Equality Act issues. His advice has covered both state-funded and independent schools. Richard also has significant experience in SEND law and other local authority education issues such as transport, school re-organisation, legal challenges and complaints.

Personal

Richard is chair of trustees at a multi-academy trust in Warwickshire and has been involved in school governance for over a decade.

He enjoys music, going to concerts, reading, running and watching sport, especially football.

Work Highlights

Richard has supported schools on a range of complex issues including advising on:

Admissions – including on compliance with the legislation and School Admissions Code 2021; challenges to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator and/or ESFA complaints; removal from boarding; and judicial review challenges;

Admission Appeals – advising on and clerking admission appeal hearings; provision of training to admission authorities and appeal panel members; advising on and representing admission authorities in complaints made to admission appeal processes from the ESFA or Local Government Ombudsman;

Exclusions – advising on compliance with the statutory exclusions guidance and advising on responses to behavioural incidents at school generally; clerking GB review meetings and Independent Review Panels; and training schools and panel members on exclusions;

Equality Act issues – supporting schools on a range of complaints and claims made in respect of alleged discrimination; representing schools on claims arising from disability discrimination in the First Tier Tribunal;

SEND – advising and supporting schools on all aspects of SEND legislation and guidance including funding, admissions and the relationship with the local authority and representing the school in relation to complaints being made to the DfE in respect of LA actions;

Complaints – advice and representation in respect of complex complaints arising from all aspects of a school/trust’s operations.

Legal challenges - advising and supporting schools on a range of legal challenges, including judicial review, on a wide range of subjects such as admissions, exclusions, religious discrimination, SEND provision and funding.

In addition, Richard is Chair of Trustees at a multi-academy trust in Warwickshire.

Practice Areas

Richards practice includes admissions, exclusions, SEN, disability discrimination and other Equality Act issues for both state-funded and independent schools. Richard also has significant experience in SEND law and other local authority education issues such as transport, school re-organisation, legal challenges and complaints.

Expert in these Jurisdictions

England and Wales

Education