The governing body of Leighton Middle School -v- The Independent Appeals Panel of Central Bedfordshire Council (anonymity order)

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim number: AC-2026-LON-000157

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

15 January 2026

Before:

The Hon. Mrs Justice Eady DBE

Between:

THE KING on the application of
THE GOVERNING BODY OF LEIGHTON MIDDLE SCHOOL

-v-

THE INDEPENDENT APPEALS PANEL OF CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE
COUNCIL

and

C (interested party)

Order

On an application by the Claimant for urgent consideration and interim injunctive relief

Following consideration of the documents lodged by the Claimant:

ORDER BY THE HON. MRS JUSTICE EADY DBE

  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 name of the Interested Party is to be withheld from the public and must not be disclosed in any proceedings in public; and
    (ii) the Interested Party is to be referred to orally and in writing as C.
    (b) Pursuant to s. 11 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981, there must be no publication of the identity of the Interested Party, or of any matter likely to lead to the identification of the Interested Party 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 Interested Party;
    (ii) if any statement of case subsequently filed includes information likely to lead to the identification of the Interested Party, 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 may 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.
  2. Timetable for submissions and paper decision/further directions on application for urgent consideration/interim relief:
    (a) The Defendant is to file and serve a written response to the application for interim relief/urgent consideration by 4:00pm Friday 23 January 2026.
    (b) The Claimant may file and serve a reply to that response by 4:00pm Wednesday 28 January 2026.
    (c) The papers are to be referred to a Judge or Deputy Judge for a decision whether to grant interim relief and/or whether to make further directions in this matter (which may include directions for an oral hearing of the application) as soon as possible thereafter.
  3. Liberty to the parties, on the giving of at least 24 hours written notice, to apply to vary or discharge this order.
  4. Costs reserved.

Reasons

(1) Anonymity: The Interested Party is a child and there is no immediately apparent public interest in their identification in these proceedings. Moreover, given that the Interested Party has not had the opportunity to be consulted as to these proceedings, at this stage it is considered that there are compelling reasons for the limited derogation from the principle of open justice provided by paragraph 1 of the order.
(2) Urgent consideration/interim relief
(a) I am not persuaded that grounds have been identified that would justify the exceptional course of granting interim relief on a without notice basis. I accept, however, that this matter concerns the education of a child and, prima facie, that is likely to require expedited consideration.
(b) In the circumstances, I have directed that the defendant should provide its written response to the application for urgent consideration and interim relief by 4pm Friday 23 January 2026, allowing the Claimant the opportunity to respond, by 4pm Wednesday 28 January 2026. This matter will then be restored before a Judge for further consideration which may include an on-paper determination of the application/directions or a hearing of the application/further directions.