The School Inclusion Project (‘SIP’) is a forum coordinated by the Garden Court Chambers Education Law Team in partnership with the Communities Empowerment Network, Just for Kids Law and the Law Centres Network.
Racialised minority and SEND children, and others who experience structural oppression, are disproportionately excluded from school. Evidence shows that exclusions harm children’s mental health and long term educational prospects, and that they increase the likelihood of social exclusion and engagement in criminal activity (the ‘school-to-prison pipeline’).
SIP GOALS
- Facilitate referrals for legal representation in school exclusion hearings and related legal proceedings;
- Share knowledge and best practice; and
- Identify and address systemic issues
SIP Group Communication
Most of SIP’s communications will be by email (via GoogleGroup), with quarterly meetings for SIP members to discuss topical issues. SIP is only open to individuals and organisations that predominantly support children who have been excluded and/or discriminated against in school. Any individual who predominantly represents schools, local authorities or similar organisations on school exclusion/inclusion issues should not be a member of SIP.
An email protocol can be found here.
Key information on how to make a referral for SIP can be found here.
Click here to download SIP's quick guide to the DfE consultation.
Past Events
A launch event for SIP was held on 20 July 2021. To watch the recording, please click here.
SIP Training was held on 10 November 2021. To watch the recording, please click here.
Become a member
To become a member of SIP (including being added to the GoogleGroup), please complete the form below.
Please read our privacy policy to understand how we use and protect the information sent to us.
The Team
Stephanie Harrison QC
Year of Call: 1991
Year of Silk: 2013
Amanda Weston QC
Year of Call: 1995
Year of Silk: 2018
Stephen Simblet QC
Year of Call: 1991
Year of Silk: 2020
Nicola Braganza QC
Year of Call: 1992
Year of Silk: 2022
Hannah Rought-Brooks
Year of Call: 1999
Kate Aubrey-Johnson
Year of Call: 2001
Jodie Blackstock
Year of Call: 2003
William Tautz
Year of Call: 2004
Greg Ó Ceallaigh
Year of Call: 2006
Raza Halim
Year of Call: 2009
Gráinne Mellon
Year of Call: 2010
Michael Etienne
Year of Call: 2012
Susan Wright
Year of Call: 2013
Sophie Caseley
Year of Call: 2013
Ubah Dirie
Year of Call: 2014
Matthew Ahluwalia
Year of Call: 2015
Zehrah Hasan
Year of Call: 2016
Angharad Monk
Year of Call: 2017
Ollie Persey
Year of Call: 2017
Rachel Schon
Year of Call: 2018
Elena Papamichael
Year of Call: 2021
