News

Yes, is the simple answer. There is a common misconception that a Local Authority Maintained School must use the local authority as their HR provider.  Schools are told they must do this because the local authority are ultimately the employer and have a final say in any decision to dismiss. This is not the case. … Read more

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 came into force in April 2026 and amends section 133 of the Education Act 2002 to extend the QTS requirement to academies. So, from 1st September 2026 new teachers in scope must either: •    Hold QTS, or•    Be actively working towards QTS Sixth Form Colleges that are not … Read more

This is a question we are often asked:- Are we required to pay part time teachers who have TLR’s, the full time TLR value despite them say only doing three days per week? The answer depends on the proportion of the responsibility carried out by the employee, rather than their contracted hours. So, if a part timer … Read more

On 1st April 2026, the DfE updated the ‘Flexible working in schools’ guidance to reflect the ending of the current FWAMS delivery programme on 31 March 2026 and the launch of a new programme on 1 April 2026. The non-statutory guidance is to help employers develop and implement flexible working policies and to support employees who … Read more

1. The Relevant TPS Legal Framework  The Teachers’ Pension Scheme is governed primarily by:  The regulations themselves do not expressly prescribe a “one-day break”. Instead, they require:  2. Where the “One-Day Break” Actually Comes From  The “one-day break” is derived from scheme administration and guidance (link below), not the regulations themselves.  In practice, TPS requires a clear break in pensionable employment to demonstrate that the … Read more

An update to Working Together to Safeguard Children was published on 18th March 2026. This is key statutory guidance for schools and education providers, setting out how they must work with other agencies to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and links in closely with Keeping children safe in education 2025. The term practitioner … Read more

Summary This is a summary timetable of the changes that will be made by the Employment Rights Act 2025 and the policies that will or may need to be updated.  We will be contacting our clients over the next week to assist in policy amendments.  Changes will need to be consulted on with Trade Unions … Read more

A common issue for schools arises where a teacher is employed on a permanent unqualified teacher contract but subsequently obtains Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). The question is whether the school can continue to employ that individual on the unqualified teachers’ scale until a suitable vacancy arises, or whether their pay and status must change immediately. … Read more

In Ngole v Touchstone Leeds [2026] EAT 29, the Employment Appeal Tribunal held that an employment tribunal had erred by failing to properly determine whether the respondent charity’s treatment of a Christian job applicant was because of his protected beliefs, or because of the way those beliefs were perceived to have been manifested. The claimant, … Read more

The ACAS Code of Practice on time off for trade union duties and activities sets out the distinction between trade union duties and trade union activities. Trade Union Duties Trade union duties relate directly to the representative role an elected trade union official performs in connection with matters for which the union is formally recognised. … Read more