Our Team comprises specialists in charity, education, property and employment law; offering schools all the support they need.

For our latest briefing on the implications of the Academies Act 2010 and other Education Legislation click here.

INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS AND FURTHER AND HIGHER EDUCATION

We advise education institutions across England and Wales including independent schools, universities, academies, colleges of higher education and Oxbridge colleges (including Permanent Private Halls). We have also provided advice to school associations such as the Association of Governing Bodies of Independent Schools (AGBIS) and are co-sponsors and contributors to the haysmacintyre Schools Conference.

Our experience over more than 150 years of advising independent schools and Higher Education institutions enables us to support our Education clients on the whole range of legal and strategic issues such as:

• Constitutions and governance
• Amendments to the governing documents for Royal Charter institutions
• School and University incorporations
• Protecting the school’s or University’s brand and Intellectual property
• Property
• Mergers, takeovers closures and acquisitions
• Legacies
• Governor responsibilities
• Compliance with Charity Law
• Fundraising and bursary funds
• Employment and pensions
• Banking
• Child protection
• Admissions
• Trading Companies

Public benefit

Our Education team also provide a range of services which will help schools meet the public benefit test and address other issues raised by the Charity Commission in their recent public benefit assessment. On 13 October 2011 the Upper Tribunal (Chancery and Tax) published an important decision on the public benefit of independent schools. For an analysis of that decision and the consequences for independent schools read our October client briefing click here.