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Top 10 tips for effective complex complaints handling in schools

Thursday, 08 February 2024

Since the pandemic, many schools and academy trusts have seen an exponential growth in parental complaints which can be complex and protracted in nature. In response to this, we present our Top 10 Tips for handling parental complaints.

Top 10 tips for effective complex complaints handling in schools

Articles & Blogs Academies & MATs

Part-year and irregular hours holiday entitlement to be pro-rated from next year - what do academies and maintained schools need to know?

Tuesday, 12 December 2023

Following consultation earlier this year, the Government has now confirmed significant changes to holiday entitlement for part-year and irregular hours workers.

Part-year and irregular hours holiday entitlement to be pro-rated from next year - what do academies need to know?

Articles & Blogs Academies & MATs

Understanding agency worker rights

Tuesday, 12 December 2023

We have seen an increase in claims being brought by agency staff where their legal entitlements have not been met. It is therefore crucial that schools understand agency workers' rights and comply with their legal obligations to avoid any similar claims.

Understanding agency worker rights

Articles & Blogs Academies & MATs

Recruitment challenges - can the immigration system help your school fill the gaps?

Tuesday, 12 December 2023

With academies and schools throughout the country struggling to fill vacancies at all levels, many are now recruiting staff from overseas.

Recruitment challenges - can the immigration system help your school fill the gaps?

Articles & Blogs Academies & MATs

Stop Press: Government will introduce pro-rata mechanism for part-year and irregular hours workers' holiday entitlement

Thursday, 16 November 2023

Significant regulation change is coming regarding Working Time Regulations for part-year and irregular hours workers at academies and maintained schools.

Stop Press: Government will introduce pro-rata mechanism for part-year and irregular hours workers' holiday entitlement

Articles & Blogs Academies & MATs

Inspections - safeguarding and elective home education

Thursday, 19 October 2023

The updated Ofsted School Inspection handbook (the Handbook) came into force on 1 September 2023 (as updated on 6 October 2023) and now applies to all inspections of academies and maintained schools carried out by Ofsted.

Inspections - safeguarding and elective home education

Articles & Blogs Academies & MATs

Navigating staff based conflict in schools and strategies for effective resolution

Monday, 16 October 2023

The modern workplace has witnessed a noticeable increase in employee conflicts in recent years and schools are no exception.

Navigating staff based conflict and strategies for effective resolution

Articles & Blogs Academies & MATs

Changes to Flexible Working Regime

Wednesday, 11 October 2023

Flexible working has been a hot topic since the pandemic. With the changes to the statutory regime being widely reported, we are already seeing an increase in flexible working requests, and push back from staff and unions on decisions to reject requests.

Changes to Flexible Working Regime

Articles & Blogs Academies & MATs

Mobile phones in schools - what to expect from the Government guidance?

Wednesday, 11 October 2023

As widely reported in the media, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan recently announced (2 October) the Government's intention to produce new guidance banning mobile phone use in schools.

Mobile phones in schools - what to expect from the Government guidance?

Articles & Blogs Academies & MATs

A 'back to school' bulletin for our academy and maintained school clients

Tuesday, 12 September 2023

The DfE published some revised statutory guidance and advice in recent weeks which came into effect on 1 September 2023

A 'Back to School' bulletin for our academies and maintained school clients

Articles & Blogs Academies & MATs

A School Admissions Round Up

Tuesday, 27 June 2023

The time of year has come around again when schools should start thinking about their admission arrangements for the next intake to be determined (September 2025), to establish if they are fully compliant with current admission and other law.

A School Admissions Round Up

Articles & Blogs Academies & MATs

Keeping Children Safe

Monday, 03 July 2023

The Department for Education (DfE) published the revised version of the statutory guidance Keeping Children Safe in Education in June.

Keeping Children Safe

Articles & Blogs Academies & MATs

Ofsted's Inspection Practice Changes

Monday, 03 July 2023

On 12 June, Ofsted provided more detail around their hailed changes to their inspection practices. The changes, while not altogether seismic or particularly detailed at this stage, at least provide some insight into what lies ahead.

Ofsted's Inspection Practice Changes

Articles & Blogs Academies & MATs

New Statutory Guidance on Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in Force From 1 September 2023

Monday, 03 July 2023

The DfE has published new statutory guidance on Suspension and Permanent Exclusion from maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units in England, including pupil movement, which will come into force on 1 September 2023.

New Statutory Guidance on Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in Force From 1 September 2023

Articles & Blogs Academies & MATs

Robust Line Management Versus Bullying - How Far is too Far?

Tuesday, 27 June 2023

Maintaining a positive workplace culture is essential for any school's success. Unfortunately, the line between strong management and bullying can become blurred.

Robust Line Management Versus Bullying - How Far is too Far?