Insights

There have been lots of significant changes to the Skilled Worker visa route in the last 18 months, increasing the salary thresholds and reducing the list of eligible occupations.

With major reforms to dismissal rights on the horizon, independent schools have only a limited window to review staffing models and implement any planned contractual changes before flexibility is significantly reduced.

The Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) recently published its annual review of inspections for the academic year 2024-2025, marking the second year of the updated inspection framework introduced in September 2023. The report provides valuable insights into inspection trends and highlights areas where schools have struggled to meet compliance standards. Notably, compliance rates have dropped from 89.5% in 2023-2024 to 84.4% this year. 

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'.

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.

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