Welcome to the final edition of the ELAS newsletter for this academic year. Before the ELAS office ‘breaks up’ for the summer I would just like to keep you updated with ELAS activities past, present and future.

 

The last meeting, of the academic year, TheSEN SIG held in June, was addressed

By  Jane McConnell, Chief Executive of IPSEA reporting on new
Tribunal proposals and their possible implications.Jane’s talk was well received and generated some interesting and thoughtful discussion.The meeting was well attended. talk was well received and generated some interesting and thoughtful discussion.Thanks go to her for her presentation and to Gail Treml for organising all the SEN Special Interest Group meetings this year.

 

Also held in June the last meeting of the Schools SIG the discussion of the Academies Bill and the challenges which it offers was  led by Tracey Eldridge-Hinmers.  Thanks to her and to  David Lawson of Hardwicke who organised the meeting and the strawberries! Along with leading the
discussion on Free Schools.

 

As members may be aware EPLI is produced entirely through the voluntary efforts of its Editor and relies on articles being contributed for publication members and others who have something of interest within Education Public Law to share.

 

Gathering articles is a time consuming and often frustrating task as all our contributors are extremely busy people, as is the Editor Nick Armstrong.

 

So Apologies for the late arrival of the current edition of the journal. I am happy to report that through the valiant efforts of, and dogged chasing by, Nick the latest edition of EPLI will be with members very shortly.

 

 

The Executive Committee has decided, on advice from its legal advisors, that the governing document of ELAS should be updated to bring it in line with new Company Law provisions and also to make the following specific changes:

 

·         To make the holding of an Annual General Meeting discretionary and not mandatory; and

·         To clarify the process of election to the Executive Body.

 

Following the failure to attract a quorate of our Members to the EGM held in February we are hoping to pass a written resolution in order to amend the governing document.

 

In the envelope containing the EPLI when it is sent, there will be a copy of this written resolution, instructions for its completion and a prepaid envelope to return the resolution to the ELAS office.

 

 

When you receive this may I urge you to return it as soon as possible, if we do not receive the resolution back within 28 days of receipt then your vote will not be counted and the resolution may not be passed.

 

As members were advised previously explanatory notes on the proposed amendments and a copy of the proposed governing document, which has been drafted by our legal advisers, can be found on the ELAS website www.educationlawassociation.org.uk on the Articles and Memorandum page.

 

The Executive Body is most grateful for your cooperation in this matter and we look forward to receiving your resolution by return in the stamped addressed envelope provided.

 

 

The first major event of our New Year will be

 

The conference will be held on Tuesday 21st September 2010 at Royal Institute of British Architects, 66 Portland Place London W1B 1AD, from 9.00am to 5.30pm.

 

The agenda is still to be finalised.  So far we have secured, as presenters

a visiting academic –Dr Elizabeth Dickson Lecturer, School of Law, Queensland University of Technology to deliver a paper on, among other things,   truancy. 

 

 ELAS Chairman Oliver Hyams, Barrister Devereux Chambers will discuss Reasonable Adjustments  in examinations.

 

There will be lots more!