Legal Guidance and Research / Experts / Mark Blois
Mark Blois#445
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Mark Blois

Mark is a Partner and Head of the Education team at Browne Jacobson, a leading national education law firm. Mark personally has over twenty years' experience as an education lawyer and has been recommended as a Leader in his field in the industry bibles 'Chambers UK' and 'Legal 500' for more than fifteen years. 'Chambers UK' has dubbed him 'an industry leader' and includes him as one of only three lawyers ranked in Band One nationally for recommended education lawyers. 'Legal 500' has described him as 'exceptional'. He was named Lawyer of the Year at the Nottinghamshire Law Society Awards in 2012 and designated a National Leader of Governance by the NCTL in 2015.

He has previously served as a member of the Regional Council of the Learning and Skills Council, as a Director of the National Governors' Association and on the Board of a 157 Group FE College. For the last six years Mark has been the Chair of the L.E.A.D Academy Trust, a large multi-academy trust in the Midlands. He is a Trustee of NASEN and also a Non-Executive Legal Advisor to the National SEND Forum.

He regularly speaks at national conferences including those of the Association of School & College Leaders, National Association of Head teachers, Institute of School Business leadership, National Governance Association and the Freedom and Autonomy for Schools - National Association.

Practice Area

Panels

  • Case Analysis Panel
  • Contributing Author

Qualified Year

  • 1998

Membership

  • Law Society, Education Law Association

Education

  • University of York, University College London

1 Contributions by Mark Blois

Failing to Comply with a School Attendance Order: Offence, Procedure, Statutory Defence and Sentencing under the Education Act 1996 (England and Wales)
PRACTICE NOTES
Failing to Comply with a School Attendance Order: Offence, Procedure, Statutory Defence and Sentencing under the Education Act 1996 (England and Wales)
The Education Act 1996 (EA 1996) creates criminal liability for a parent who does not ensure his child receives regular education. All offences under the EA 1996 are summary only, so they can be dealt with solely in the magistrates' court. Procedure Under the EA 1996 Only a local education authority may commence criminal proceedings under the EA 1996; no other prosecuting body is permitted to do so. Before starting a case, the authority must first consider whether it would be appropriate, instead of or as well as prosecuting, to seek an 'Education Supervision Order' (ESO) from the court. Elements of the offence of failing to comply with school attendance order The prosecution must establish that: a parent has failed to comply with the requirements of a school attendance centre order Parent Within the EA 1996, 'parent' in relation to a child or young person includes any individual who is not a parent but who has 'parental responsibility' for a child or young person, or who...
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