Independent Schools

Our Education Team, led by Joanna Lada-Walicki, advises a range of education establishments, in particular independent schools (both senior and preparatory) and universities, on key issues affecting the education sector.

Our reputation in advising the education sector has been gained from years of practical experience which has given us an in depth understanding of the challenges faced by education establishments, including the ever changing regulatory framework. The Team works alongside schools, colleges and universities to provide practical solutions.

Independent Schools

We have been advising independent schools for many years. We are recognised in the Independent Schools Financial Yearbook 2011/2012 as one of the top three law firms nationally for the provision of legal advice to independent schools.

Based at our offices in Guildford and Woking, our lawyers advise independent schools on all legal issues and increasingly a key factor is the protection of the reputation of the school.

Expertise and Knowledge

We believe in preventative advice. We provide training to enable clients to take a pro-active approach to dealing with changes in employment legislation and addressing employment issues. We are totally familiar with the specialised terminology used in the sector such as the significance of term dates, the start and end of the academic year and the dates by which notice to teaching staff must be given. We understand how the sector is regulated and the requirements relating to safer recruitment, child protection and medical fitness.

Our lawyers specialising in pupil issues advise on the admissions process (including the application of the Disability Discrimination legislation and the Special Educational Needs Framework), the terms of the contract between parents and independent schools, parental/pupil complaints and on exclusions.

Many of our independent school clients are registered charities. Our charity experts offer services including registration and winding up of charities, advice on structural issues, mergers, demergers, joint ventures and new corporate vehicles. Recent advice has focussed on the issues relating to public benefit.

We have extensive experience of dealing with a wide range of property issues for our education clients including leasehold and freehold acquisitions and disposals and licences and tenancy agreements for staff accommodation. We advise on security documentation on re-financing, property due diligence on mergers and loan agreements and legal charges to secure unpaid fees. We also advise on the Charities Act requirements of these matters.

We have a dedicated debt recovery team with specialists dealing with independent schools. We advise schools to minimise the risk of non-recovery of fees by acting quickly and not allowing unpaid fees to become significant.