Recent Experience

We act for a large number of educational institutions in the maintained and independent sectors including Academies and provide advice to local authorities. 

Members of our Charity and Education Unit have:

• Advised sponsors on a number of successful Academies including the conversion of a City Technology College into an Academy.  We are, therefore, fully familiar with these structures and their funding arrangements.  We have also advised charities which are contributing assets (including land) to such Academies.
• Advised a local authority on the possible use of a charity or other not-for-profit company (including a Community Interest Company) in connection with their Building Schools for the Future scheme.
• Acted for a Trust which is promoting a new voluntary aided secondary school which is being created by the DfES as a pilot project for parent-promoted schools as foreshadowed by the recent White Paper.  We are currently formulating the statutory proposals having established the Trust as the promoter and prospective foundation body.
• Acted for a number of state-maintained schools who acquired foundation status via the fast-track route including schools with complex issues arising from existing joint-use activities
• Converted an independent preparatory school into a voluntary aided primary school.  Building work has started with the school due to open in 2007.  Our work included the creation of the foundation body and advice with regard to the temporary governing body, funding, admissions policy and other areas relevant to the acquisition of state-maintained status.
• Advised on independent school closures, amalgamations and acquisitions
• Advised on charity law issues arising out of education Private Finance Initiative (PFI) schemes, including in particular where the schemes involve the use of land owned by a charity.
• Provided advice in the context of a PFI transaction to the governing body of a school relocating to new premises. 
• Advised the governing body of a school in relation to the transfer of certain sport and leisure facilities to a private operator as part of a Public Private Partnership. 
• Acted for a number of governing bodies within the context of PFI where a number of schools within an LEA were to be refurbished and facilities management to be provided. 
• Acted for the proposed governing body on the establishment of a new voluntary aided primary school on a green field site.
• Richard Gold was until recently a school governor of many years' standing.  One school of which he was a governor entered into a PFI contract for the relocation of the school involving the provision of a new school on a green field site.  He was closely involved as a member of the governors' project group and had responsibility for oversight of the legal process.  He has, therefore, seen the process as client as well as advisor.