Insights

The Court of Appeal, in a majority judgment, has dismissed an appeal challenging a school's decision to permanently exclude a pupil for misconduct. 

The Department for Education's update to the Academy Trust Handbook in October 2025 has significantly changed the way in which confidentiality clauses can be used by academies, including in settlement agreements. Academies need to be aware of these changes to ensure compliance and avoid potential issues.

In October, the Department for Education (DfE) announced new timetables for the removal of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) from schools and colleges in England. 

From September 2026, significant changes will come into effect regarding Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) for newly recruited teachers in state-funded schools in England. 

Fraud remains one of the most pressing challenges for businesses in the UK, and charities are no exception. According to the BDO's 2024 Charity Fraud Report, 42% of charities reported fraud or attempted fraud in 2024, with an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 incidents of fraud suffered across the sector. Yet despite these alarming figures, 44% of charities do not have a fraud response plan in place. 

A Birmingham court has ruled that a Will made during the height of lockdown in April 2020 by the late Kathleen Bernadette Coady was not valid, meaning her earlier 2017 Will stands. The case was brought by her eldest son, Peter, against his brother Gerard, and turned on whether the strict witnessing rules in the Wills Act 1837 were followed.