We are Staffordshire’s largest provider of education legal services and we support many hundreds of maintained schools, academies, MATs, faith schools, colleges and FE institutions across the region.
Our specialist education lawyers have a wealth of experience and can support your school with all education-related matters including but not limited to the following:
- Employment advice
- Academy conversions
- Funding including agreements, grants and local authority arrangements (eg for children with SEN)
- Admissions and exclusions
- Governance
- Support for Governors, Trustees and staff
- Litigation and complaints
- Contracts with suppliers of Goods and Services
- Property and development of school sites
- Income generation
- SEND
- General school and pupil issues including behaviour and sanctions
- Parent / family disputes and court involvement
- Health and Safety
Examples of our recent work
Collaborated with a Local Authority for the benefit of its maintained schools to establish clarity in relation to Early Years funding, following a change in Government Guidance.
Working with a collaboration of schools and a local authority to transform its SEND funding arrangements by passing decision making and accounting responsibility to local school clusters.
Advising on a school’s serious breach of Health and Safety regulations and subsequent involvement with HSE following an accident at work.
Provided training for Head Teachers on basic contract law and discrimination.
Advised a school in relation to its responsibilities towards year 3 transgender pupil on issues not covered by DfE Guidance.
Supporting a school in relation to a vexatious complainant upset with the school’s response to her daughter’s medical needs.
Successfully brought about the removal of defamatory comments made online against a member of teaching staff.
Successfully defended a school in an Employment Tribunal matter where the claimant was alleging breaches of Equalities legislation.
Advising on a complex grievance against a Head teacher.
Successfully settled a complex matter involving a whistle blowing claim against the school and the Head teacher as a named respondent.
How we can help you
Our clients choose to work with us year on year due to our unique insight & experience, and our pragmatic approach to problem solving. If you would like to speak to one of our team about what we can do for you, please contact one of our advisers on 01785 854284 or use our online contact form.
Our offer and fees
For a competitive fee we offer schools unlimited general advice and support via our dedicated “Schools helpline”.
Our fees reflect the differences in school category and type, the number of pupils on roll and the school’s likely needs so please contact us for a tailored quote. Alternatively for those schools with access please see refer to the Entrust portal.
On occasion, where costs are likely to rise beyond your or our control (such as where a matter is likely to end up in, or is already in, court or tribunal) we can offer our services at hourly rates starting from £75 for an experienced solicitor.
Please note that we can act for maintained schools and other types of education provider regardless of location but for academies we act for only those based in Staffordshire.
Legal Briefings
In addition to unlimited access to our solicitors we produce informative Legal Briefing notes on issues which commonly arise for our clients. They are designed to provide education staff with an overview of the legal position as well as giving practical advice to help them respond to simple day to day issues quickly and easily.
A selection of our Legal Briefings can be found here:
A basic guide to Independent Exclusion Review Panel hearings
Withdrawal from RE and Collective Worship