Neil Jinks, R (on the application of) v The Secretary of State for Education

Facts

The claimant, Mr Jinks, is a former headteacher of Holy Rosary Catholic Primary School in Staffordshire. A first Professional Conduct Panel found a series of allegations against him proved. Many of these he had admitted. They concerned failures in safeguarding, pre-employment checks, fire and water-tank safety, and the registration and support of newly qualified teachers. The panel also found that he had given false information to a Diocesan Canonical Inspector about a reference for his son, and that this was dishonest. On the panel's recommendation, the Secretary of State made a Prohibition Order on 4 October 2019. Mr Jinks's attempts to challenge that order failed: Lieven J refused permission for judicial review, and Linden J refused an application to appeal out of time. In September 2022 Mr Jinks applied to have the order set aside, and the application was referred to a second panel. That panel held that it could not revisit the original findings. It found that he had shown insight into the conduct he admitted, and it recommended that the order be set aside. The Secretary of State refused the application on 19 December 2024 because Mr Jinks continued to deny some of the findings. She specified the minimum review period of one year. Mr Jinks, acting in person, sought judicial review, and HHJ Carmel Wall granted permission in part.