Education
Hannah is one of the leading education juniors at the Bar. She is instructed in some of the most important judicial reviews and appellate cases regarding how educational institutions should be run. In recent years, this has involved the first case on the use of isolation rooms in schools, a landmark judicial review on the use of top-up fees in nurseries, an important decision on the functioning of independent review panels; and ongoing litigation regarding Palestinian flags in a primary school.
She appears in the High Court and County Court on disputes between students and Universities. She regularly acts in the Administrative Court and First Tier Tribunals on matters arising from EHC plans and exclusions.
She frequently conducts independent investigations concerning complaints made by parents and by teachers. She also chairs and advises disciplinary and appeals panels.
Hannah has particular expertise in the handling of allegations of sexual misconduct against students and teachers. She conducts sensitive investigations on behalf of institutions, and acts for institutions and families in internal and court proceedings arising from these allegations. She has also appeared in litigation on this issue at an appellate level.
Hannah also regularly acts in cases concerning freedom of speech and trans rights in educational settings.
Super impressive. Terrific mastery of large amounts of detail. Very good bedside manner with clients.
Chambers & PartnersVery knowledgeable in her field. Her advice is clear and pragmatic. Her advocacy style is calm and precise, which appears to play very well to education law judges.
Legal 500Hannah is a go-to junior for freedom of speech and education in public law matters.
Chambers & Partners
R (EBB) v The Gorse Academies Trust
[2025] EWHC 1983 (Admin)
wide-ranging challenge to use of isolation rooms at a high-performing Academy Trust (led by Jason Coppel KC and Hannah Slarks).
R (Bournemouth, Poole v Christchurch Council) v Local Government Ombudsman
AC-2022-LON-003695
Acting as sole counsel in this important judicial review regarding how childcare providers work around the early years free entitlement funding rules.
R (LM) v An Academy Trust
[2024] EWHC 2267 (Admin)
Acted as sole counsel in this case about the procedural requirements for governing bodies reviewing permanent exclusions, in a case about serious sexual misconduct in a secondary school.
R (XYZ) v City University
CA-2023-000634
In the Court of Appeal, acted as sole counsel for the University in this sensitive case in which male student was found guilty by the University of having non-consensual sex with a drunk female student.







