Industry Leading Education Experience
We understand that what is important to you is that your pupils be the best they can be. Each school has its own culture and ethos and we work with you to get to know your institution and to support you in achieving your aims.
With industry leading experience in the education sector, our multi-disciplinary team of experts work as trusted advisors to help you succeed. We will support you through the myriad of legal challenges that schools face, so you can focus on pupil attainment. This could be from helping you support pupils with special educational needs, dealing with staffing issues, to providing advice on GDPR obligations or governance matters. The breadth and depth of our experience means that we’re excellently-positioned to work with you.
How Our Independent Schools Experts Can Help
It is important for schools to ensure they are complying with all governance requirements. Our team have a wealth of experience in advising our education clients on the full range of governance issues
Educational & Pastoral Advice
We advise on the full spectrum of education-related challenges, needs, and requirements of your pupils. Areas include student related matters, child protection and safeguarding, admissions and exclusions, parental complaints and more
Corporate & Commercial
Our legal experts can help you with commercial contracts and procurement, drafting, negotiating and reviewing collaboration agreements with third parties, advising on options for merger or ownership restructuring, advising on changes to constitution, advising on group reorganisations, including incorporation and removal of subsidiaries, drafting joint venture documentation, disputes arising out of commercial agreements
Information Law
We can assist with the information obligations of schools in a. number of areas including, dealing with Data Subject Access Requests from pupils, staff and parents and providing training on GDPR obligations
Employment & HR
We provide support on a wide range of employment and HR issues including general HR queries, redundancy and restructuring, employment contracts, including both drafting and making contractual variations and their implementation, occupational health, policies and procedures, advising on guidelines for carrying out equality and diversity analysis, performance management, employment disputes and tribunals, TUPE, discrimination and whistleblowing, Immigration. If you need additional assistance, our HR Consultancy can support you, from day-to-day advice through to the development and implementation of complex projects
Property
We can advise on acquisitions and disposals of land and property, provide planning and construction advice, including securing planning permission and appealing planning refusal as well as advising on construction contracts, advise on the refinancing of school property, development projects, to include Charities Act requirements
Our Independent Schools Experts
Esther Maxwell
Partner
Joe Soul
Partner
Jordan Glackin
Partner
Anieka Sheppard
Legal Director
Emma Noble
Senior Associate
Why choose Shakespeare Martineau?
- We have a dedicated multi-disciplinary education team with over 100 experts in multiple offices across the UK
- Our team of experts understands your requirements and the legal framework under which our advice needs to be provided
- Our long term presence within the sector means we have a full understanding of the issues arising across all typical areas
Key Projects
Independent School
Teacher Pensions
Advising a large independent co-educational school on implementing change in pension provision amounts for their teaching staff, including advising on the statutory collective consultation process and dealing with dissenting staff and threats of strike action from Trade Unions
Independent School
Bursary Advice
Advising an independent school on the legality, under the Equality Act 2010, of a proposed bursary it had been offered by one of its former pupils, and how to monitor effectiveness in order to avoid positive discrimination.
Independent Schoool
Misconduct Allegation
Supporting a school on allegation of misconduct involving a teacher accused of sexually harassing a pupil. We advised on their obligations under Keeping Children Safe in Education, their options in instigating the disciplinary procedure, the reporting requirements, and supported the school in meetings with the LADO and the police
Our Other Education Services
Academies
We understand that what is important to you is that your pupils be the best they can be. Each school and group of schools have their own culture and ethos, and we work with you to get to know your institution and to support you in achieving your aims.
Further Education
As a full-service law firm with a focus on the education sector, we’re able to tailor our service offering to fit your needs. Our track record speaks for itself. We’re proud to have education as one of our firm’s longest standing key sectors, acting for over 100 further and higher education institutions.
Our latest Independent Schools updates
The updated CMA guidance for higher education – what’s changed?
The New Anti-Fraud Law with Big Implications for Education Providers
Employment Law Update for Schools: What You Need to Know
See more articles >
Higher Education Collaborations and Mergers: Getting the Cart and Horse in the Right Order
Issues for Consideration by Governing Bodies and Executive Boards | Lessons Learnt from the University of Dundee (Part Four)
Issues for Consideration by Governing Bodies and Executive Boards | Lessons Learnt from the University of Dundee (Part Three)
See more articles >
The updated CMA guidance for higher education – what’s changed?
Key issues in the CMA’s updated guidance for higher education
SEND reforms: What is the plan for improving SEND and alternative provision?
The potential reclassification of universities by the Office for National Statistics: some initial thoughts
See more guides >
Our Independent Schools experts are here to answer any questions you might have
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