Schools applying for Academy Status
Employment and HR Support for Academies
The most important asset of any school or group of schools is the staff. Therefore, expert employment law advice and HR support is hugely important during the process of conversion to academy status. Once the school or group of schools has converted to an academy, post HR support is vital in order to manage the complex minefield of employment law and HR matters. Our Employment Team has been recognised for a number of years by The Legal 500 and Chambers as experts in all aspects of employment law.
Consultation during conversion
As part of the process of setting up an academy, staff will transfer to the employment of the academy trust under the TUPE Regulations 2006 (‘TUPE’). Under TUPE, staff and their unions are entitled to be provided with certain information by their existing school in relation to the transfer of their employment. There is also likely to be a full consultation process prior to the transfer of staff to the academy trust.
We provide employment advice and assistance in relation to the entire consultation exercise with staff and unions and all other legal matters relating to the conversion to academy status, including pensions.
Post conversion HR and employment needs
We hope that converting schools to academy status will only be the start of the relationship and that we can offer valuable support post conversion. Looking beyond the conversion, we offer the provision of day to day and strategic advice. This covers all employment aspects including:
- safeguarding issues;
- changing terms and conditions of employment;
- redundancy, restructuring and re-grading exercises;
- the drafting of employment contracts,
- policies and procedures;
- managing difficult absence and performance matters and
- defending Employment Tribunal proceedings.
The Employment Team also provide regular written updates as well as seminars and training sessions on topical employment law issues for academies.
Our experience
Our Employment Team has a particular specialism in providing pro-active and incisive employment law advice and HR support to the education sector, including academies.
The Team is currently advising a number of academies and is very experienced in dealing with the type of employment law and HR issues that frequently arise in the education sector. Our expertise in this area will ensure a smooth transition to academy status and full support post conversion.
Support and fixed cost packages
The Employment Team appreciates the desire to budget for expenditure on legal fees. The Team therefore offers a range of packages including competitive fixed fee arrangements for academies allowing for high quality easy access legal advice and support.
For further information contact Andrew Masters, Head of Employment, to discuss the level of support and fixed fee packages the employment team is able to offer schools on 01227 763939.
Quick contact
- Please call 0845 603 1057
- Send us a quick enquiry >
- Email us >
- Meet the Education team >
- Services for Individuals
- Services for Business
- Services by Sector
