Be prepared: August 2024

Back to school… are you ready for what the new year has in store?

What changes will the new government bring during this academic year? How will changes to policy and new guidance impact schools and trusts?

There’s already updated safeguarding guidance, new procurement legislation, revised attendance and absence reporting and a new iteration of the Academy Trust Handbook, with further developments to come.

There’s also new legislation coming into force, such as the Procurement Act and the Corporate Transparency Act, which will have implications, especially for larger trusts.

We’re committed to keeping you abreast of these developments as they unfold, providing practical support so you can handle changes as efficiently, effectively, and safely as you can.

Here's how we can help you be prepared for 2024-25:

• Staying up to date with the latest updates and advice.
• Improving leadership and governance.
• Keeping children safe.
• Handling parental complaints.
• Managing suspensions and exclusions.
• Handling personal data securely.
• Getting the best from your people.
• Joining a multi-academy trust.

Be prepared with the latest updates and advice

Take a moment to bookmark the content you find useful and subscribe to future updates via your preferred channels and you can be among the first to benefit from the advice we share:

• Subscribe to Be Connected, our periodic newsletter.
• See the latest legal updates and events on our website.
• Connect with us on LinkedIn or via Twitter/X.
• For bespoke, advice on demand, you’ll need Quickcall or MAT PartnerPlus.

Be prepared by improving governance

We offer a range of CPD and coaching opportunities for school and trust leaders as well as advice and guidance to help stand you in good stead for the year ahead, including:

• Rebuilding trust and community following the riots.
• Making the most of your INSET days.
• Understanding the changing role of company secretary.
• #EdInfluence - gain insight from inspiration leaders.

Be prepared to keep children safe

Make sure you’re up to date with the latest KCSiE guidance and benefit from high quality safeguarding training, tailored for:

• Governors and trustees.
• Lead governors and lead trustees.
• Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs).
• Safer Recruitment.
• Online safeguarding compliance training for all school staff.

Upcoming safeguarding events:

Dai Durbridge will be chairing the Child Protection in Education 2024 (#CPinEd) Conferences in London and Manchester early this term, where you can access a range of safeguarding support, guidance and expertise in person. Find out whether you should attend.   

Other support includes:

• Quickcall / MAT PartnerPlus for bespoke advice when you need it.
• Safer Recruitment Support Pack

Safeguarding support

Be prepared to manage parental complaints

Since the pandemic, schools have seen a significant increase in the volume and complexity of complaints from parents. Our team have been working hard to support you in offsetting the impact this has, preparing best practice resources, support and training to enable you to handle complaints, efficiently and effectively:

• Managing parental complaints CPD programme.
• Complaints management support pack.
• Parental behaviour support pack.

Managing complaints

Be prepared to manage exclusions effectively 

School suspensions and exclusions are at a record high, so it’s likely that the DfE may review the exclusion process, with the new Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Stephen Morgan, already on record saying he’d look at a greater role for local authorities in the exclusion process.

We can support you with the current behaviour, suspension and exclusion framework and advise on any changes as and when they’re brought in.

Available support includes:

• Guidance on the latest Behaviour in Schools regulations.
• Exclusions Support Pack - resources to manage the whole process.
• Bespoke exclusions training for senior leaders and governing boards.

Exclusions support

Be prepared to handle personal data securely

Our expert data protection lawyers assist on the approaches you should be taking, advising on all areas of information law from the implications of data protection and GDPR to the Freedom of Information Act.

Available support includes:

• CPD for Data Protection Officers (DPOs)
• DPO helpline
• Data protection e-learning for all staff

Data Protection and GDPR support

Be prepared to get the best from your people

Your people are your most valuable asset and we know you’ll want them to hit the ground running, come the start of term. Here’s our advice on how to get the best from your staff INSET days and our range of CPD and training opportunities available this academic year.  

Our HR Services for schools and academies offer high-quality employment advice and with fixed-term, pay as you go or bespoke support as you need it, we have a solution to meet your needs.

Other support includes:

• HR Policies – best practice policy documents so you can be compliant and consistent.
• Template Support Pack - hundreds of ready-to-use documents to support your processes.
• HR Pathways – HR CPD for new and aspiring trust leaders.
• Online code of conduct training – staff compliance training in one easy app.
• Executive coaching - for CEOs and trust leaders keen to take leadership to the next level.

All HR services and support

Be prepared to join a multi academy trust

The academies programme has been successive governments’ flagship education policy and more than 10,000 schools have now converted to academy status, which has been funded by the DfE. From 1 September 2024, the grant will be paid only to schools approved to join or form a trust as part of a group of three or more schools.

Having helped handle one in five of the nation’s academy conversions, we’re well placed to advise schools who are still to embark on this journey.

• Converting to academy status – step-by-step guidance.
• Understanding academy trusts (guidance developed with the NAHT)
• ‘Taking the next step’ guidance (developed in collaboration with the NGA and ASCL)
• Changes to academy conversion funding

Forming or joining a multi academy trust