Education

Our education team provides expert commercial, regulatory and compliance advice to independent schools, academies, further education colleges and universities.

Based at our Newcastle city centre office, our multi-disciplinary team of commercial, property, corporate, employment, charity and dispute resolution lawyers provide pragmatic and commercial advice on:

Academy conversions

Despite the Government’s recent u-turn on compulsory conversion, there is  still an increasing number of schools for whom becoming an academy is an appropriate and viable option.

It is important to manage the conversion process carefully. We offer legal expertise with a commercial focus to help our clients to identify risk and maximise new opportunities.

There are several key documents needed, including property transfers and the governing documents for the new academy. There can also be major employment issues, including TUPE transfers, and the need to establish a new company limited by guarantee.

Employment

Huge numbers of people are employed in roles related to education. Our employment lawyers can assist in managing those people and making them as effective as possible, including by advising in relation to:

• Performance management
• Disciplinary issues
• Absences
• Grievances
• Flexible working
• Discrimination
• Whistleblowing
• Settlement agreements

We also provide a fixed price employment law service, backed by insurance protection. HR Key provides a solution to the headaches faced by employers of all sizes when dealing with the complexities of employment law and the ever increasing burden of compliance. For further information, please click here.

Data protection

Educational establishments hold a great deal of sensitive data about their staff, pupils and families. That data needs to be managed carefully and protected – we can provide advice and guidance as well as compliant policies.

Dispute resolution and debt collection

Schools are no different to most other legal entities – they have suppliers, “customers” and legislation to comply with. We can assist with disputes arising from, for example, supply contracts, property issues and admissions.

We also have extensive experience in:

• Admissions appeals
• Policies and procedures
• Health and safety
• School funding
• School mergers
• Construction
• Property transactions
• Joint ventures
• Local authority schools
• Free schools
• Independent schools
• Multi-academy trusts