Articles

Home Office guidance for sponsors is to be updated on 1 September, requiring holders of student sponsor licences who use agents to recruit international students to be signed up to the Agent Quality Framework.

The Government has confirmed when the major changes will take effect, with phased implementation running into 2027. Independent schools now have a valuable opportunity to plan ahead.

Amidst a backdrop of consolidation in the independent schools' market - and with increased numbers of co-educational independent schools - the Department for Education (DfE) has recently updated its non-statutory guidance for independent schools. 

At Narrow Quay HR we have recently assisted a number of independent schools with collective consultations. Reasons to consult have included potential redundancies, changes to terms and conditions or changes to the Teachers' Pension Scheme.

A recent Court of Appeal decision offers reassurance to school employers that external job applicants are not protected by whistleblowing detriment laws, but a cautious approach to complaints in recruitment remains advisable.

Media headlines have dramatised the recent statutory government guidance, which allows local authorities flexibility to use capital receipts from qualifying asset sales to fund revenue costs. It has been confirmed that this could include funds generated by local authorities in disposing of school playing fields.