| Education Law takes care of any legal issues around | | | | institution is found to be liable for an injury that has |
| education. There are many areas of education where | | | | occurred while the victim was at the premises. |
| law dictates how things work. Here we take a brief | | | | DISCRIMINATION |
| look at some areas that are covered by education | | | | Students (and teachers) cannot be discriminated |
| law. | | | | against for any reason. Everyone must be treated |
| EMPLOYMENT | | | | equally irrespective of gender, age, race, sexuality or |
| Just like any other business anyone who works for | | | | religion. |
| an educational institution, such as a school, college or | | | | FINANCE & FUNDING |
| university, must act and be treated according to the | | | | Certain rules apply as to how different institutions |
| normal employment laws. | | | | can acquire funding. For example, states schools have |
| EUROPEAN LAW | | | | to be free for all. Different regulations apply to state |
| There are European laws that dictate certain areas | | | | and private institutions, as they do depending on |
| of education law. This is likely to increase in the near | | | | what type of institution they are (e.g. schools and |
| future, with the Lisbon Treaty going through. This | | | | universities are treated differently). |
| means that many of the education laws are likely to | | | | STUDENT ADMISSION |
| be uniform across Europe. | | | | This is an area that has been much debated recently. |
| INSTITUTION RESPONSIBILITIES | | | | Rules that decide who has the right to attend a |
| There are certain responsibilities set out by law that | | | | specific school are set out by law, something that is |
| educational institutions must abide by. They have a | | | | based on the geographical areas in which they live. |
| duty to teach certain things (depending on the type | | | | Many parents have been known to dispute these |
| of institution) and sometimes they have certain | | | | decisions. |
| procedures which they must follow. For example | | | | STUDENTS TAKING ACTION AGAINST EACH |
| secondary schools must teach certain subject, such | | | | OTHER |
| as English, Maths and Science. | | | | Although rare, there are some occasions where |
| TRAINING | | | | students have taken legal action against each other |
| Anyone working in education must be trained | | | | using education law solicitors, with the most common |
| sufficiently to fulfil their specific role. School teachers | | | | reason being that they have been bullied by the |
| have to have formal training, both to make sure they | | | | student in question. |
| have the skills to teach children and to make sure | | | | DISCIPLINE |
| they know their subject areas sufficiently. | | | | There are laws stating forms of discipline that can be |
| CHILD CARE | | | | carried out. In the past physical punishment was legal |
| Educational institutions have a duty of care. Those | | | | but this is no longer the case. There can also be |
| looking after children must be deemed fit to take on | | | | disputes where children have been excluded from |
| such a role. This can include background checks so | | | | school. |
| everything possible is done to make sure children are | | | | POSSESSION OF SUBSTANCES |
| safe in their care. | | | | Certain substances are banned by law from premises. |
| SPECIAL NEEDS | | | | Illegal drugs are obviously not allowed, but cigarettes |
| Institutions have a legal obligation to meet the needs | | | | and alcohol are also not deemed acceptable at certain |
| of those with special needs to make sure that they | | | | premises. This mostly applies to schools. |
| are given the same opportunities as others. | | | | SEARCHING |
| HEALTH & SAFETY | | | | Students are allowed to be searched on occasions |
| There are health and safety guidelines that must be | | | | but only when there is sufficient suspicion that they |
| followed. Premises must be deemed safe for | | | | have broken rules. This can include searching pocket, |
| purpose. Compensation might be payable if an | | | | bags and lockers. |