Simon Henthorn

Simon is one of the UK's outstanding Education lawyers. He is listed a Leading Individual for his work advising schools, colleges, universities and other Education sector organisations by the The UK Legal 500 and under his leadership, the firm's Education team has achieved the highest possible ranking (Tier 1) with The Legal 500 saying -

"Doyle Clayton is renowned in this area of education for its breadth of expertise, with practice head and standout practitioner Simon Henthorn being described as a class act".

For two consecutive years, the Education team has been shortlisted by The Legal 500 in its Annual Awards - one of only two UK Education teams to achieve this.

What people say about Simon

Recent work for schools and colleges includes

• Advising an HMC independent school about the removal of its Headteacher following allegations that he had groomed a pupil for a sexual relationship. The case involved safeguarding, regulatory (TRA) and employment issues
• Supporting an academy in relation to the termination of employment of its Headteacher following concerns with performance
• Negotiating the exit of a bursar at a well known girls independent school in London
• Successfully defending a further education college against a six figure claim in a dispute about the provision of education
• Successfully defending a multi academy trust against an employment tribunal claim for maternity discrimination
• Advising an independent school concerning a multi-agency safeguarding matter

Recent work for individuals includes

• Advising five emanate Professors at Oxford University – campaigning to change the University’s internal statutes which impose a mandatory retirement age – both internally and at the employment tribunal.  Simon has had three letters published in the Times on the issue – and has recently received his first instruction for a Professor at Cambridge to challenge its statutes
• Advising three Oxford professors against the University's mandatory retirement age. Read more here
• Acting for Michael Bell and his daughter Lexie Bell challenging Ofqual’s stance on exam results.
• Advising an Executive Headteacher on his unfair dismissal and disability claim brought against an academy trust. The case has been reported by the BBC
• Advising the parents of a public at a large public school – concerning highly sensitive allegation of safeguarding
• Advising a lecturer dismissed for scandalous behaviour – the case is in the Court of Appeal and High Court and has been reported in the Daily Mail and the Times

Webinars and podcasts include 

• A-Level & GCSE Appeals Webinar - With the disruption to the job market caused by COVID-19, strong academic results are even more important and people with higher grades will be more competitive, this webinar looks at all of the legal and practical issues involved in appealing A-level and GCSE grades.

Articles published include  

• Letters in the Times – Age discrimination at Oxford
• The Gazette – The impact of changes to TUPE
• Education Today
• The New Law Journal - Costly benefits

Key relationships include

Simon has developed strong relationships with the professional associations in the Education sector - in particular with IAPS, ISBA, the Sixth Form Colleges Association, ASCL and the AOC. He regularly speaks and exhibits at conferences hosted by the associations. As well as catching up with clients and key contacts, he gains an invaluable insight into life at the coalface. Examples of recent talks include: Managing difficult relationships – ISBA HR Conference Equality issues and Brexit – IAPS Annual Conference Negotiating terminations of employment – ISBA HR conference Social media – pitfalls and solutions – ASCL A governor of St Stephens Primary School where he chairs the Personnel Committee, he was previously a governor at the Vineyard School.

Advocacy 

As well as being an expert in the education field, Simon has Higher Rights of Audience and has appeared as an advocate at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court in the reported education case of Duncombe -v- DCSF.

Simon acted for Mr Duncombe and other members of the teaching unions belonging to the NASUWT and ATL.

Experience and qualifications 

• Qualified in January 2000
• Specialist in Employment since 2000
• Specialist in Education since 2004

Professional memberships 

• Education Lawyers Association
• Employment Lawyers Association
  

Areas of expertise 

• Education advice
• School Mergers and Restructures
• Employment law and HR support for schools and colleges
• Employment law support for individuals working in the education sector
• Child Protection & Safeguarding in Schools