Schools & Academies

Schools and academies experts

We understand the legal needs of schools and academies. Whilst under close scrutiny from both internal and external sources, schools can benefit greatly from working with our team, which is committed to protecting and maximising assets and reputation at all levels. We can provide pragmatic advice on a huge range of legal issues affecting the education sector.

We offer a wide range of legal solutions, from HR and employment law support, to academy conversions, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We can provide you with support from legal experts that work as an extension of your own team.

HR and employment law for schools
Our dedicated schools team are specialist, education-focused HR and employment law experts. Every school is different, we will invest time to understand your working practices and ethos, to enable us to provide commercial and practical guidance relevant to your specific needs.
We also understand the environment in which schools operate and the requirement to access legal advice when you need it. We operate as an extension of your management teams providing certainty on costs through an annual fixed-fee service level agreement/retainer.
Our services
We develop bespoke packages from a range of services we provide, including:
access to our education lawyers for legal advice 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
a contract and policy audit
provide a template of employment contracts and policies
access to online resource base with guidance notes and supporting material
procedural guidance as part of our ongoing day-to-day support. Including, but not limited to: disciplinary, appraisal, capability, grievance, sickness absence and redundancy or restructure
advice of trade unions
advice on settlement agreements
regular email updates on developments which may affect you
training on HR and legal developments
guaranteed face-to-face time at your school
Academy conversion services
We understand the needs of schools converting to academy status. The managerial environment in the education sector is constantly evolving and, as schools become independent academies, we know how demanding it can be to ensure your school sustains excellence in education, whilst engaging fully with the new standards of expectation that academy status brings.
We are committed to maximising your school’s potential and minimising the issues that arise during the conversion process.
Our services
Advice will typically cover the following:
advice on the establishment of an academy trust company limited by guarantee
advice on a commercial transfer agreement between local authority or governing body and academy trust
advice on a funding agreement between the secretary of state and academy trust
advice on the transfer of any relevant contracts to the academy trust
advice and support on the transfer of staff employed at the school including the application of TUPE
advice on pensions and their transfer and application post-conversion
advice on transfer of property
advice on any PFI or BSF contracts which may be in place
The complete legal solution for schools
The managerial environment in schools is constantly evolving and we know how demanding it can be to ensure your school sustains a high level of educational standards, whilst engaging fully with the education sector’s changeable legal framework.
Legal support service for schools
We can develop bespoke packages depending on your requirements which may include:
access to our education lawyers for legal support and advice over the phone or by email. This service is available to you 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and it covers the following:
admissons, exclusions, behaviour and pupil welfare and parental issues
commercial contracts, procurement and trading advice
data protection and freedom of information
governance (including academy / MAT group structures and funding agreement queries)
safeguarding and managing allegations
SEN and equalities duties
a set of template statutory policies specifically prepared to keep you legally compliant and which reflect best practice
regular email updates on developments which may affect you
training on topical issues and legal developments affecting schools along with complimentary places at our events
guaranteed face-to-face time at your school
Other services
Outside of our standard fixed-fee legal support service package, we are also able to provied pragmatic advice on a huge range of areas affecting schools including the following:
abuse claims
academy conversions and post-conversion legal provision
construction contracts, appointments and warranties and construction disputes
defamation
environmental and regulatory issues
company secretarial issues
faith school issues
finance and grants
free school academies
human resources and employment law
intellectual property (IP)
litigation and dispute resolution, including judical review
planning, property and estates management and facilities
PR and media issues
risk management, including school trips and expeditions