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Academies & MATs - Blogs and Legal Updates

Academies & MATs

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?

Articles & Blogs Academies & MATs

School PFI Contracts - Make Sure You are Planning for Their Expiry

Monday, 22 May 2023

From the early 1990s, PFI (Private Finance Initiative) projects were used by the Government to help regenerate school estates across the country.

School PFI Contracts - Make Sure You are Planning for Their Expiry

Articles & Blogs Academies & MATs

Ofsted's Plans to Reform Approach to 'Safeguarding' Judgements

Monday, 22 May 2023

In her statement published on 21 April 2023, HM Chief Inspector Amanda Spielman commented on calls to reform school inspections.

Ofsted's Plans to Reform Approach to 'Safeguarding' Judgements

Articles & Blogs Academies & MATs

Academies Regulatory and Commissioning Review

Monday, 22 May 2023

The DfE has now published the outcome of the Academies Regulatory and Commissioning Review.

Academies Regulatory and Commissioning Review

Articles & Blogs Academies & MATs

AI and the Education Sector - Changing Times

Wednesday, 17 May 2023

Until recently, to most of us in the education sector artificial intelligence (AI) was a somewhat abstract concept. However, that abstract concept has become dramatically real with the launch and widespread use of ChatGPT and similar products.

AI and the Education Sector - Changing Times

Articles & Blogs Academies & MATs Real Estate

Energy Efficiency Requirements - Countdown to Changes Affecting the Leasing of Property

Monday, 20 March 2023

Granting leases of school property to third parties is commonplace for academies. They are often fundamental to the management of an estate (such as nurseries and sports facilities etc) as well as providing a welcome additional revenue source.

Energy Efficiency Requirements - Countdown to Changes Affecting the Leasing of Property

Articles & Blogs Academies & MATs Special Schools and Colleges

Government Intervention with Local Authorities with Severe SEND High Needs Funding Deficits

Monday, 20 March 2023

Since 2019-20, there has been a significant increase of 40% in high needs funding, to a national total of £9.1 bn in 2022-23.

Government Intervention with Local Authorities with Severe SEND High Needs Funding Deficits