Insights

Joining an Academy Trust, welcoming new schools into a Trust, or merging Trusts is a significant moment of change for everyone involved. Whether you're a school or a Trust, effective planning and preparation are essential to ensure a smooth transition and positive outcomes for the entire school and Trust community.  

In the context of increasing scrutiny on academic partnerships by the Office for Students (OfS) and the HE sector facing ongoing serious financial pressures, how institutions manage their academic partnerships and related risks can make the difference between success and failure.  

We are seeing a rapidly increasing number of enquiries relating to the management of pupil SEND and SEND funding, often involving parental complaints and claims of discrimination. These matters are frequently emotive, complex and time consuming, with no ready 'fix'.

Over the summer, we received a number of enquiries from schools following media coverage about whether our position on Fees in Advance (FIA) schemes had changed since the implementation of the VAT policy. 

Of all questions that our contracts lawyers are asked by schools, probably the most frequent relates to 'automatic extension' provisions in contracts.

From 11 November, UKVI will bring into the Immigration Rules a number of safeguards that have been operating as concessions since May. The focus is on clarity and consistency around guardianship, living arrangements and the documentation schools should see before issuing a CAS. Independent schools should review templates, processes and record keeping to ensure visa applications made from 11 November are compliant.