Insights

The start of the 2026/27 academic year brings another substantial package of legal, regulatory and guidance changes for academies and maintained schools.

Some changes take effect from 1 September 2026, others have already come into force during the year, and a further programme of education reform remains on the horizon.

Against that backdrop, we highlight some of the key areas schools should prioritise as the new academic year begins.

The Sponsor Guidance was updated on 28 August 2026, introducing important changes to the operation of the Sponsor Management System (SMS). These updates include the implementation of multi-factor authentication (MFA), the phasing out of Level 2 users, and new policies addressing SMS inactivity. This article explores these key changes and their implications for your business and sponsor licence compliance.

September marks 12 months since the failure to prevent fraud offence came into force. If your organisation falls within scope, this is a useful opportunity to step back and consider whether the fraud prevention measures put in place before September 2025 remain effective and appropriate.

The EAT has held that the existence of significant factual disputes does not, by itself, prevent a claimant from establishing that they have a sufficiently strong case to obtain interim relief.

The Government has launched a consultation on a revised statutory Code of Practice on Fair and Transparent Distribution of Tips, reflecting new requirements under the Employment Rights Act 2025. The consultation closes on 29 September 2026.

Join us for an employment law update for Academies and Maintained Schools.