We understand that a successful school depends on a staff body which is effective, well motivated and high performing. Our Employment Law team will work in partnership with your school to proactively ensure that your staffing structures and HR procedures help achieve these aims.
When things go wrong we know that you need practical advice, often out of normal office hours, which provides you with the confidence to act in the best interests of your school. Our specialists are on hand to provide expert support and assistance whenever it is needed 24/7.
Our team understands that employment law in schools is unique and requires many areas of specialism over and beyond the routine employment law facing most employers. From safer recruitment, through to reporting dismissals, to the Disclosure and Barring Service or Teaching Agency, our dedicated independent school employment lawyers have the expertise to guide you through the regulatory regimes and ensure compliance and fairness.
We have developed sector leading products and templates which form the cornerstone of the employment relationship. Our Safer Recruitment Pack provides the policies and procedures to support the recruitment process and ensure compliance with the regulation and guidance in this pivotal area.
Our precedent school Employment Contracts and Employment Manual have been developed with our independent school clients over a number of years. They have had the benefit of the practical input of numerous Heads, Governors and Bursars and have also been through the consultation process with all of the main teaching unions. They are regularly reviewed so you can taken comfort in the fact that they comply with the latest legislation and best practice. Our unique updating service means that once you have adopted our contracts we take responsibility for keeping them up-to-date by providing a free newsletter update.
Based on fixed fees, these employment law services mean you can plan your budget and allow you to concentrate on education as we provide continuing support and update these documents.
We are immersed in the sector so we can respond to new issues that affect you and can lead the way by developing new solutions. Our fixed fee Salary Sacrifice Scheme for school fees is now available and has received HMRC approval. Schools have experienced the increasing influence of trade unions amongst teaching staff and strike action. We are in daily contact with the teaching unions and have advised how to engage through better communication, formalising Information and Consultation Agreements and in some cases, Voluntary Recognition Agreements. We regularly help schools review and reorganise their staffing structures and implement changes to terms and conditions. These are just some of the ways we can help you as well as with all your normal and routine disciplinary, capability, grievance and HR requirements.
Our ability to approach a new set of facts and develop a school focused solution singles us out as the must go to team for employment law advice.
We know that keeping up to date with employment law can be a challenge. We will take the pressure off by letting you know about the changes that will affect your school through our Schools Law Brief, OnStream and regular programme of seminars.
We also provide bespoke training for school leaders and staff, as part of inset training or a specific training session, on a wide range of subjects including; Safer Recruitment, Equality and Diversity, Performance Management, Managing Sickness Absence, Disciplinary and Grievance procedures etc.
VWV's education team are commercially astute and keep up to speed with trends and moves in the independent school sector - they are therefore able to provide relevant and up-to-date advice to clients.
Our independent schools lawyers have a broad variety of legal expertise and offer a full legal service to the independent schools sector
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