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.

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.