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Current Legal Challenges Facing Post-Primary School Management: School of Law, Trinity College Dublin

Current Legal Challenges Facing Post-Primary School Management

Date: Saturday, 7 November 2015

Venue: Arts Building, Trinity College Dublin

About the Conference

The School of Law of Trinity College Dublin is holding a conference on Saturday, 7th November 2015, which will address all important recent legal developments that impact on the good management of post-primary schools.  The speakers are experts in their areas. There will be opportunity for questions from participants to the panel.

Those involved in the management of post-primary schools today are faced with tough challenges, requiring a good understanding of the present law.  They must seek to reduce the potential exposure of their school to legal liability, by having sound processes in place, anticipating areas of particular concern and responding appropriately to problematic situations.

Download a PDF Brochure here

Amongst the Questions to be addressed are:

  • What potential liability does a school have where a pupil is bullied by another pupil outside school hours?

  • What level of protection must a school provide employees and pupils from violence perpetrated by outsiders who gain access to the school?

  • What is the responsibility of school management for the use of social media by their pupils?

  • What is the present position relating to section 29 appeals?

  • What liability attaches to a school for injuries to pupils on school premises before or after school hours?

  • Where a pupil's parents are not married to each other or have divorced or separated, how should the school deal with issues of discipline, safety or welfare affecting the pupil?

  • What pitfalls should be avoided in regard to a school's admissions policy in the light of the new legislative proposals?

  • What are the legal requirements in regard to school dress codes that may impact on religious sensibilities?

  • What special considerations of health and safety may arise in regard to pupils with special needs?

  • What do the courts require of school management where a teacher shows signs of stress in the job?

 

Programme / Speakers

9:00 Registration
9:30

Codes of Dress and Religious Diversity

Dr. Neville Cox, BL is Associate Professor and a Fellow of Trinity College Dublin. He is author, with Eoin McCullough SC, of Defamation: Law and Practice (June, 2014), and co-author of Employment Law in Ireland (2009). He is Director of the Master of Laws degree programmes at Trinity.

10:00

Bullying and Social Media: The School’s Legal Position

Dr. Ciaran Craven is a Senior Counsel. He is co-editor of Medical Negligence Litigation: Emerging Issues and The Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004: Implications for Personal Injury Litigation and co-author of Psychiatry and the Law (2nd ed. 2010).

10.30

Employment Law Update for Teachers and Schools

Dr. Desmond Ryan is a practising barrister specialising in employment law and an assistant Professor at Trinity College Dublin, where he lectures in employment law and torts.  He is co-author of Employment Law in Ireland (2009) and has published widely on the subject in a number of journals, including the Irish Employment Law Journal.

11.00 Tea/Coffee break
11:20

The School’s Duty of Care to Pupils: What the Courts Today Require

William Binchy is a practising Barrister and co-author of McMahon and Binchy’s Law of Torts (4th ed., 2013).

11:50

Equality Legislation and Education (Admissions to Schools) Bill 2015

Professor Gerry Whyte is Professor of Law at Trinity College Dublin.  He is author of Social Inclusion and the Legal System: Public Interest Law in Ireland, published by the Institute of Public Administration (2nd ed., 2015), co-author of Irish Trade Union Law and co-editor of the fourth edition of John Kelly's The Irish Constitution.  He is also actively involved with various NGOs targeting social exclusion.

12:20

Section 29 Appeals: Where do we now stand?

Dr. Dympna Glendenning is a practising barrister and a former primary school teacher and principal. She is author of Religion, Education and the Law (Tottel, 2008), Education and the Law, 2nd ed, (Bloomsbury), 2012 and co-editor (with William Binchy) of Litigation against Schools: Implications for School Management (Firstlaw, 2006).

12:30 Questions and Discussion

 

The right to substitute and rearrange lecture(rs)s is reserved.

 

Reservations and Fees

Fees:*

120 euro per person
Group Rates (Euro):
215 for 2; 305 for 3, 380 for 4 and 450 for 5

Fees inclusive of tea/coffee and lecture materials.

 

Payment:

All Cheques should be made payable to TCD No. 1 Account and returned to the address below

Reservations:

Please complete the booking form and return to:

CPD Conference Programmes, School of Law,
House 39, Trinity College, Dublin 2

Contacts: Conference Reservations: Telephone Catherine at +353 1 896 2367;
Fax Number: (01) 677 0449; Email: lawevent@tcd.ie