Search Mobile

collapse

already registered?

Please sign in with your existing account details.

Email address

Password

need to register?

Register to access exclusive content, sign up to receive our updates and personalise your experience on brownejacobson.com.

Privacy statement - Terms and conditions

Forgotten your password?

collapseSign

Browne Jacobson home

Education home

Services

Governance

governance

corporate-meeting-papers-and-pens

Effective governance is an essential part of any organisation. School, academy and college governors have a difficult task – as unpaid volunteers they are responsible for providing effective leadership, direction and control of their schools and colleges. Good governance requires an active governing body working with a strong leadership team to create effective corporate governance throughout the organisation.

Our experienced team gives you access to experts (including National Leaders in Governance) in the full range of corporate and governance issues. Those relevant to the education sector include academy projects, governance structures, multi academy trust structures, joint ventures and commercial arrangements, collaboration, alliance arrangements and trading companies. Our team has an excellent reputation for providing practical, commercial and innovative advice.

what we do...

Advising on all constitutional matters and on conflicts of interest.
Governance training on a range of issues including legal duties, effective decision-making and the relationship between the board and leadership team.
Governance reviews and providing strategic support to the board.

Advising on EFA, DfE and OFSTED requirements.
Providing options appraisals.
Delivering horizon-scanning sessions for boards on latest developments/trends in the sector.

related resources

Legal updates

The four important changes to the 2019 Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance

The 2019 version of Keeping Children Safe in Education is still in draft form, but it is highly likely it will come into force as currently drafted.

View

Legal updates

be connected newsletter for education - July 2019

As we approach the final few days of the school term, this edition of BeConnected provides you with the latest in legal updates, news and insight from the sector.

View

Legal updates

New Academies Financial Handbook focuses on strengthening governance and compliance

The new Academies Financial Handbook for 2019 has been released to come into effect from 1 September 2019.

View

Legal updates

Relationships and sex education in schools

After a period of consultation and discussion with many organisations dating back to 2017, the Department for Education has now published its statutory guidance on relationships education, relationships and sex education and health education.

View

View all

what the directories say...

A client adds: 'The firm is a very efficient and effective organisation, and I often hear other colleagues around the country reflecting on the high quality of their work, guidance and support.'

Chamber 2018

The ‘highly professional and responsive’ team at Browne Jacobson LLP assists educational providers, including multi-academy trusts, with restructuring and academisation as well as providing regulatory advice and representing institutional clients in discrimination claims.

Legal 500 2017

A highly ambitious organisation with a superb corporate image, excellent client support and good commercial awareness.

Chambers 2017

A deep understanding of the legal framework associated with schools and academies.

Legal 500 2016

Leading national education practice, with significant experience advising on academic issues

Chambers 2016

recent experience

Supporting a well-established and traditional multi-academy trust in reviewing its governance arrangements. We provided a succinct report including a range of options that could be adopted to enhance their governance arrangements together with links and sign-posting of relevant research. The MAT were then able to use the meeting with us and the advice note to make the enhancements they wished to adopt.
Working with a high-performing primary multi-academy trust that had been successfully operating for a number of years to review its approach to governance including local governance. We worked with the MAT to design a suitable approach to governance that supported their vision and values whilst also meeting the DfE’s requirements.
Supporting a multi-academy trust comprising secondary, primary and special schools with a number of twilight training sessions for their main board and their local governing bodies. The sessions were interactive and supported the continued development of links between the local and main boards. Following the training we then provided a short report on recommended actions that could be adopted to enhance governance arrangements at the MAT.