Expert, practical advice to Sixth Form Colleges

Over recent years the educational landscape has changed significantly. Our education experts stay up to date with proposed and upcoming changes to education law and regulation. We understand what these changes mean for your sixth form college and are able to provide commercial, pragmatic advice on all areas of governance and administration.

If you are considering a merger with another education provider our legal experts will work with you to understand your objectives and secure the best possible outcome for you, your staff and your students.

We advise on all finance and borrowing facilities loans and other funding for development.

We advise on all dealings with the DfE and local authorities.

Our expert team is experienced in advising diocesan authorities in relation to faith colleges and academies.

Our Employment team deals with a wide range of issues cases for sixth form colleges. We provide a full employment service in relation to teachers and staff including the Red and Lilac Books.

We support you in ensuring an inclusive environment for your staff and students.

Our experience includes advising on strikes, strike pay and industrial relations.

We have a dedicated team who advise further education clients on this fast developing area of law. This includes all aspects of GDPR compliance including the review and variation of contracts with suppliers and other third parties and updating standard contract terms. We are the only law firm accredited by the British Computer Society to provide its Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection course.

Our Critical Incident team provides a 24-hour legal response service in the event of an incident or emergency situation. Our experienced team of solicitors and barristers are on hand 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to support sixth form colleges in the event of any health and safety or safeguarding incident.

If the conduct or performance of a member of your teaching staff is called into question, our education experts work closely with our regulatory team to provide expert advice.

Our education experts advise on all aspects of student discipline, suspension and exclusions.

Our lawyers advise on a wide range of commercial agreements and procurements for sixth form colleges, arrangements for funding staff and student recruitment and teaching.

We have advised sixth form colleges on IP ownership issues, licensing arrangements and drafting and negotiating internal IP protocols for staff and students.

We advise on a range of issues including land management, acquisition and disposals, development, planning and construction, college land, playing field reverter, publicly funded land and shared leisure and other facilities.

We work closely with sixth form colleges to resolve conflicts quickly. We focus on finding a resolution so that you can focus on your students.

We act for sixth form colleges, single academy trusts, multi-academy trusts and sponsored converters.

We provide advice in relation to appeals brought by children, young people, their parents or case friends relating to Special Educational Needs and/or Additional Learning Needs (from 1 Sep 2021 onwards in Wales). From negotiations relating to EHCs, Statements or IDPs in an attempt to avoid an appeal to the Tribunal, to representation at and the administration of Tribunal proceedings (through to appeals to the Upper Tribunal), we have the expertise to assist Local Authorities, CCGs, Health Boards and educational institutions in relation to their roles and responsibilities throughout the process.