Leger -v- The Secretary of State for Education (consent order)

Administrative CourtCivilHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

AC-2024-LON-000162

In the High Court of Justice
King’s Bench Division
Administrative Court

21 February 2024

Before:

Mrs Justice Lang

Between:

The King
on the application of
Glawdys Leger

-v-

The Secretary of State for Education

Consent order

UPON the Claimant challenging the findings of a professional conduct panel (“PCP”) and the decision by the Secretary of State for Education to publish those findings.

AND UPON the Claimant seeking to rely on certain documents with contents that refer to the names, date of birth and signature, or may otherwise identify, children and one child’s parents, including a child witness and the child witness’ mother, who gave evidence at the hearing before the PCP on an anonymised basis, and which are listed in the Annex to this Order (“the Protected Documents”)

AND UPON the court considering that the importance of protecting the identity of such persons outweighs the interests of openness about documents disclosed in proceedings heard in open court, such that such an order is necessary to secure the proper administration of justice and to protect the interests of persons who may otherwise may be identified from such material

AND UPON the application of the Defendant dated 6 February 2025 under CPR 39.2(4) to apply redactions and ciphers to identifying features of five children and two adults

AND UPON the application of the Defendant dated 6 February 2025 under CPR5.4C(4) to restrict the access of non-parties to the Protected Documents from the Court Record

AND UPON the application of the Defendant dated 6 February 2025 under CPR31.22(2) to restrict and prohibit the use of the Protected Documents

BY CONSENT, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that

  1. The names of the children and two adult parents of the child shall be redacted from all documents.
  2. The name of a child and the child’s mother shall be substituted with ‘Pupil A’ and ‘Pupil A’s mother’.
  3. The name of a child shall be substituted with ‘Pupil D’.
  4. The name of a child shall be substituted with ‘Pupil E’.
  5. The names of the adult character witnesses shall be redacted from all documents.
  6. A Party to whom the Protected Documents have been disclosed in these proceedings may not use the documents other than for the purpose of these proceedings.
  7. Unless the Court grants permission under CPR 5.4(C) (6), no non-party may obtain an unredacted copy of the Protected Documents.
  8. Any person wishing to apply to vary or discharge this Order must make an Application to the Court, served on each party.
  9. No order as to costs.

Dated this 24th day of February 2025

Annex to Order: the Protected Documents

In the Core Bundle for the hearing:

  1. Tab 9 – the outcome of the Professional Conduct Panel hearing and decision of the Secretary of State for Education

In the Supplementary Bundle for the hearing:

  • Tab 6 – letter of complaint from parents of Pupil A
  • Tab 7 – Pupil A handwritten statement
  • Tab 8 – other pupils’ handwritten statement
  • Tabs 15-19 – transcripts of Professional Conduct Panel hearing dated 9 October 2023 to 13 October 2023