Education Solicitors | Lawyers | Harrison Clark Rickerbys

Education and Charities

For more than 50 years, Harrison Clark Rickerbys has had a significant presence in the education and charities sector, and we’ve gained a national reputation as a key player in the field of education law. Our work covers the full spectrum of legal affairs that affect educational institutions, and we provide clear advice to help solve their problems and achieve their aims and objectives.

Education and Charities

Our Experience

Our dedicated team of legal experts are all passionate about education and charities – in fact, many of our lawyers act as school governors. As a firm, we have extensive collective experience in the sector; we understand the interplay of education law and best practice, and we’re familiar with how schools and educational institutions operate and the documentation used.

Working collaboratively with governors, heads, bursars and senior leadership teams, we offer practical and results-focused solutions across the breadth and depth of education law:

Governance
Safeguarding and child protection
Parent and pupil issues
Mergers and Acquisitions
Property
Building issues (both planning and construction)
Dispute Resolution and fee recovery
International issues (both incoming in the UK and setting up overseas)
Charity law issues
Employment and HR
Immigration
Commercial contracts and Intellectual Property
Regulatory and Health and Safety
Risk and insurance.

Legal 500: “Excellent knowledge of the property sector combined with a friendly approach towards clients.” “Excellent communication and speedy responses.” “Matters are handled promptly.”

Chambers: “Professional, attentive, responsive and hard-working – particularly responsive to our needs.” “Very professional, with excellent knowledge of the areas they operate in.”

Our Clients

We’re trusted by over 200 educational establishments including independent schools, academies, free schools, maintained schools, higher- and further-education colleges, specialist colleges and nurseries. In addition, we act in an advisory capacity to the highest level of education associations, including the Independent Schools Council (the public face of the independent sector), the Boarding Schools Association and the Independent Schools Bursars’ Association.

Our expertise in shaping guidance and policies led to us developing a national Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy for the ISBA, and our Head of Education, Kristine Scott, is regarded as a safeguarding expert in relation to children and schools.

How can we help you?

Moments that Matter

Business Journey

Education and Charities

Services offered by our team

Kristine Scott, Head of Education and Charities Sector

Education and Charities

KEY CONTACTS

Endorsements & Awards

Education Investor Awards 2022 Winner

50 Years Advising Schools

Our Experience

Our Clients

Specialist legal support enables academy to open new sixth form

University/corporation collaboration benefits from specialist legal expertise Successful collaboration between a university and a large corporation to establish new commercial income streams was supported by Nicola McNeely’s expertise. view full case study

University/corporation collaboration benefits from specialist legal expertise

In 2016, we were appointed to advise the Independent Schools’ Bursars Association (ISBA) on a new template Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and regulatory checklist for the independent school sector in England, around 1200 schools. view full case study

How can we help you?

Hear what our clients say about our Education and Charities Service

Excellent legal and technical advice for sale of school

Tremendous support for an Independent School

Expert training to keep schools up to date

More than just technical expertise for schools

Expert advice to support school investment

We can also help you with

Potential consequences of Labour’s commitment to end tax exemptions for independent schools

Employment law: what’s on the horizon in 2023?

Rise in disability discrimination claims in the SENDIST Tribunal

An English school overseas

Case Update: National Minimum Wage and Term-Time Only Workers

Update on SEND reforms

Consultation Launched on ‘Fire and Rehire’ Code of Practice

Cheltenham Borough Council appoints new Economic Advisory Board

HCR nominated twice at EducationInvestor Awards

Insurance

Ofsted inspections during industrial action

Are you certain about your contract terms?

Breach of contract

Pay dispute: the threat of industrial action

Government consultation following the Harpur Trust v Brazel judgment – key questions answered

Dispute over pay: the threat of industrial action continued…

Force majeure: not just a boiler plate clause

Time off for religious occasions and festivals – guidance for schools

STOP PRESS: Government launches consultation on the Harpur Trust v Brazel Supreme Court judgment

Greater redundancy protection for pregnant women and new parents is on the horizon

Flexible working consultation: the government’s response and what it means for schools

National Minimum Living Wage and other statutory rate increases for 2023/24

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: a case update including practical steps from an HR perspective

KCSIE 2022: Safer recruitment – the use of online searches: an update

Expert advice for charities at quarterly event

The report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse: a brief guide to some of the key recommendations and next steps

Watch now: Post lockdown commercial and business issues for schools

The importance of pedestrian safety at school

EHRC guidance: hair discrimination

Updated intervention guidance

The Trust Capacity Fund

Free schools: key questions answered

Prevent duty guidance

Action plans for misconduct and/or mismanagement

Welcoming and supporting Ukrainian refugees – what legal implications should charities consider?

Charities Act 2022: changes to note

Charity investment policies: Butler-Sloss and the balancing exercise

Charity Commission issues updated alert on charities and cash couriers

Conflicts of interest at the Victoria & Albert Museum

Calls for new rules to regulate excessive executive pay in the charities sector

Continued scrutiny of charity executive’s pay – bonuses at MSI Reproductive Choices

Informal volunteering up but donations down since start of pandemic

Charity Commission updates guidance for trustees of faith charities

New funding code: what it means for the not-for-profit sector

What can you do to protect your charity from fraud?

Risks of rapid expansion: learning from Keeping Kids Company

Charity Commission flexibility for remote meetings ends

Support for Heroes: a cautionary tale

Charity Commission launches “My Charity Commission Account”

Lawful discrimination by charities – case note

Misuse of charity’s fund for Welsh dragon statue

When is a cancellation clause enforceable?

Real estate issues in the education sector

Employment Status of Volunteers and Case Study

Cost-of-living crisis: staffing considerations for schools

Dispute over pay: the threat of industrial action

University/corporation collaboration benefits from specialist legal expertise

Successful collaboration between a university and a large corporation to establish new commercial income streams was supported by Nicola McNeely’s expertise.
view full case study

In 2016, we were appointed to advise the Independent Schools’ Bursars Association (ISBA) on a new template Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and regulatory checklist for the independent school sector in England, around 1200 schools.
view full case study