Home » Website updates January to February 2026

Website updates January to February 2026

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Last updated 12th February, 2026.

GCSEs and A-levels

Update of GCSEs, A-levels and stammering/stuttering. It includes a specific example of extra time for stammering in 2025/26 JCQ guidance.

Maritime and Coastguard Agency v Groom: paid “volunteers”

In Maritime and Coastguard Agency v Groom, the Court of Appeal held that Coastal Rescue Officers (CROs) had legal rights as “workers”, despite being called volunteers. For many of their activities they had the right to claim remuneration, if they chose to do so. The court held that legally, on each call-out there was a contract under which they agreed to perform services. Although the court did not consider the Equality Act 2010 (EqA), this should mean they have rights under the EqA.

Also updated for this case: Volunteers and interns>Legal contract to do work.

No disability discrimination claim by former member of armed forces

The Equality Act 2010 (EqA) employment provisions exclude disability discrimination claims by members of the armed forces. On the wording of the EqA, such claims by former members are also excluded. Overruling a previous tribunal decision, the EAT in L & Dunn v Ministry of Defence [2025] EAT 197 has now held that the EqA cannot be re-interpreted under human rights law to allow a former member of the armed forces to claim.

Related pages also updated:

Examples of jobs

Added to Examples of jobs done by people who stammer/ stutter:

Rubery v Ministry of Defence

Updated Rubery v Ministry of Defence for Court of Appeal decision. S.121 EqA requires serving members of the armed forces to bring a service complaint before starting an EqA tribunal claim. The Court of Appeal rejected an argument that under human rights law, this should not apply if the matter is one in respect of which no service complaint is allowed.


25th anniversary of stammeringlaw, 1999-2024