FORD V BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR SMITH PRIMARY SCHOOL (CA)

Paul acted for the school board in this case where the Court had to determine whether the school could withdraw offers of places to students from out of zone if there were no places for them.
 
Overruling a decision of the High Court, the Court of Appeal decided “no” in this decision.
 
The Board was in an impossible position because it made offers at a time when it thought that there would be space for the students, but then a wave of unexpected in-zone enrolments left the school with no space for the out of zone students.
 
The Court took a strict interpretation of the Education and Training Act and refused to allow the Board to withdraw the offers.