Articles
Back to school 2026: key legal and regulatory priorities for independent schools
02 Sept 2026The start of the 2026/27 academic year brings another substantial package of legal, regulatory and guidance changes for independent schools.
Some changes take effect from 1 September 2026 and require immediate action. Others are already in force but may require schools to revisit their policies and practice, while several significant reforms remain on the horizon.
We highlight some of the key areas independent schools should have on their radar as the new academic year begins.
KCSIE 2026: The 'for information' version has been published - what schools need to know before September
06 Aug 2026The Department for Education has now published the 'for information' version of Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2026, ahead of it coming into force on 1 September 2026.
The TPS contribution rate reduction: why independent schools should review its impact
06 Aug 2026The increase in the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) employer contributions to 28.68% required governing bodies to make difficult decisions. Those decisions were rarely straightforward.
Preparing for the trade union right of access
06 Aug 2026A significant new right for trade unions to access workplaces comes into force on 30 October 2026, and the Government has now finalised the Code of Practice that will govern it. Schools should prepare for how they are going to approach this from a strategic and logistical perspective.
Allergy safety in schools: speed read on what schools need to know about the new DfE guidance
10 Jul 2026The Department for Education (DfE) has published new guidance in relation to allergy safety in schools.
Managing data protection complaints in schools - navigating the Independent School standards
11 Jun 2026From 19 June 2026, Section 164A of the Data Protection Act 2018 introduces a formalised framework for how organisations, including schools, must handle data protection complaints. While the statutory requirements themselves are relatively procedural in nature, their interaction with existing school complaints frameworks, particularly the ISSR Part 7 parental complaints procedure, raises important practical questions.
In this article, we set out our view on how schools can most effectively manage these overlapping regimes, ensuring compliance while preserving fairness and operational efficiency.
