LLI -v- Secretary of State for Education (anonymity order)

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Case number: AC-2026-LON-002334

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

In the matter of an application for judicial review

29 June 2026

Before:

The Hon. Mr Justice Poole

Between:

The King
on the application of
LLI
(by her mother and Litigation Friend, LLE)
(Claimant)

-v-

Secretary of State for Education
(Defendant)

Order

On applications by the Claimant for (i) expedition and (ii) permission to rely on a second witness statement from LLE.

Following consideration of the Claim Form (N641) and Form N244 for each application, the Statement of Facts and Grounds, the Defendant’s AoS and summary grounds, and letter in response to the application for expedition

ORDER BY THE HON. Mr JUSTICE POOLE

  1. Anonymity:

(a) Pursuant to CPR 39.2(4) and/or the Court’s inherent jurisdiction and/or s. 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998:

(i) the Claimant’s name is to be withheld from the public and must not be disclosed in any proceedings in public; and

(ii) the Claimant is to be referred to orally and in writing as LLI and her mother and Litigation Friend is to be referred to orally and in writing as LLE.

(b) Pursuant to s. 11 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981, there must be no publication of the identity of the Claimant or of any matter likely to lead to the identification of the Claimant in any report of, or otherwise in connection with, these proceedings.

(c) Pursuant to CPR 5.4C(4):

(i) the parties must within 7 days file a redacted copy of any statement of case filed, omitting the name, address and any other information likely to lead to the identification of the Claimant;

(ii) if any statement of case subsequently filed includes information likely to lead to the identification of the Claimant, a redacted copy omitting that information must be filed at the same time;

(iii) unless the Court grants permission under CPR 5.4C(6), no non-party many obtain a copy of any unredacted statement of case.

(d) Any person wishing to vary or discharge this Order must make an application, served on each party.

  1. Expedition:

(a) The Claimant’s application for expedition is refused.

  1. Second Statement from LLE and Directions:
    (a) Permission to the Claimant to reply on the second statement of LLE dated 4 June 2026
    (b) Any Reply from the Claimant (CPR 54.8A) must be filed and served by 4pm on 7 July 2026.
    (c) The papers are to be referred to a judge for consideration of permission on the papers as soon as possible thereafter.
    1. Costs reserved

    REASONS

    (1) Anonymity:

    a. The Claimant is child, and a vulnerable child. There is no application for anonymity, but the Claimant’s age and vulnerability make this a case in which there is a reasonable expectation of privacy which is required in her best interests. There are accordingly compelling reasons for the limited derogations from the principle of open justice in paragraph 1.
    b. Since there has been no application for anonymity there is liberty to apply to discharge paragraph 1 of the order.

    (2) Expedition:
    a. The consultation has closed.
    b. The fact that many young people may be affected by any reforms following the consultation is not a reason for expedition.
    c. Amendments in the law following the consultation are not imminent and will be a matter for Parliament.
    d. The issues in the case are complex and not suitable for expedition/ abridging the usual timescales.
    e. The Claimant did not show expedition in issuing the claim herein and her conduct in that respect, although represented was not consistent with the application now for expedition.

    (3) Second Statement/Directions:
    a. The weight to be given to the second statement will be a matter for the court, but no prejudice will be caused to the Defendant by admission of the statement which it has had now since the application was served in early June 2026.
    b. The court has no record of a Reply, but the Claimant was awaiting a decision on expedition. In the circumstances an extension of time for a Reply is appropriate.

    Signed: Mr JUSTICE Poole
    Date: 29/06/26