Shazia is experienced in the various issues that arise in the context of maintained schools and academies, including admissions, exclusions, special educational needs and disability discrimination, sex and race discrimination, school transport, Academy conversions and intervention powers of the Secretary of State. She also advises upon issues of capacity within the context of appeals to the SENDIST and Upper Tribunal and the Court of Protection.
She is experienced in claims arising in the independent school sector, including faith schools. She also works in the further and higher education sector, and regularly acts for both students and higher education institutions. Shazia successfully represented the claimants in the High Court and Court of Appeal in Kebede v Newcastle City Council, a case which has had far-reaching effects on those care leavers with discretionary leave to remain, affording them access to higher education in circumstances where they have no entitlement to student loans. She also challenged the change to the Education (Student Support) Regulations in Kebede v Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills.
She is ranked by the Legal 500 as a leading junior in education.
Examples of recent work include:
- Advising a faith school in relation to challenging an Ofsted decision.
- Advising students in relation to appealing decisions of Student Finance.
- Advising on Prevent duties and obligations.
- Advising a local authority on land transfer matters.
- Representing a profoundly disabled young person in relation to securing suitable adult social care and educational provision before the SENDIST.
- Representing an appellant in relation to ABA home school programmes.
- Acting for individuals before internal university academic appeals and the Office of the Independent Adjudicator.
- Acting for a university in relation to student visa issues.
- Acting for a university in relation to a loss of earnings claim from a former student.
- Acting for a student in relation to claims of sex and race discrimination.
- Advising students in relation to appeals before their professional bodies such as the HCPC and the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
- Representing the parents of an excluded pupil in a leading independent boarding school in relation to a sex discrimination claim.
- Advising on child protection safeguarding issues and ISI inspections.