Insights
- News
Trainees take the lead on VWV's AI strategy
Recent Law Society coverage highlights how VWV trainees are being entrusted to lead on the firm’s AI strategy, driving innovation and enhancing client service delivery through fresh perspectives on technology integration.
- Articles
Employment Rights Act 2025 receives Royal Assent: what academies and maintained schools should be focusing on now
05 Feb 2026The Employment Rights Act 2025 represents a programme of reform that will unfold over the next two years. For school employers, the focus is now firmly on timing, prioritisation and forward planning.
- Articles
Children and Wellbeing Bill: Proposed MAT-Level inspections and expanded intervention powers
05 Feb 2026The Children and Wellbeing Bill continues its passage through Parliament. Newly tabled clauses would, if enacted, introduce a statutory framework for inspection and intervention at multi-academy trust (“MAT”) level. These proposals represent a notable development in the accountability regime for academy trusts and reflect an increasing policy focus on trust-wide performance, leadership and capacity.
Although further detail will be developed through consultation, the direction of travel is clear and the changes are likely to have significant implications for MATs of all sizes. Single academy trusts are expected to be exempt from inspection at 'trust' level.
- Articles
New guidance on mobile phones and AI could impact school regulation
05 Feb 2026The Department for Education (DfE) and Ofsted are introducing new measures that could significantly impact schools' regulatory obligations. The proposed measures focus on mobile phone policies and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in schools, placing emphasis on safeguarding, wellbeing, and accountability in educational settings.
- Articles
New guidance for parents: communicating positively and building supportive relationships with schools (1)
05 Feb 2026The Department of Education has led the curation of new guidance with Parentkind, to help parents provide feedback, communicate concerns and raise complaints clearly and respectfully to schools. This guidance has been developed in collaboration with Ofsted and members of the Improving Education Together Board. Schools are encouraged to share this guidance with parents and to make it readily accessible to promote positive communications.
- Articles
Preparing for the new rules on restrictive interventions in Academies
05 Feb 2026From 1 April 2026, Academies will be subject to new legal requirements on the use of restrictive interventions, including reasonable force, seclusion and non-force related restraint.
These changes follow amendments to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 and updated DfE restrictive interventions guidance. While the guidance itself remains non-statutory, the new duties to record and report incidents are statutory and will require practical changes across schools.
- Events
Training for charity trustees: collaborate, share and learn - Bristol
Thursday, 12 March 20268:30 am - 10:30 amJoin us for an interactive breakfast seminar in our Bristol office to discuss the key foundations of being a trustee.
Join us for a morning of conversation and collaboration at our Bristol office, where we will discuss the core duties and responsibilities of charity trustees over breakfast.
