0370 270 6000

Search

Search Mobile

collapse

already registered?

Please sign in with your existing account details.

Email address

Password

Sign in with LinkedIn

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

Register with LinkedIn

Forgotten your password?

collapseSign

Browne Jacobson home

Home

Insights

Blogs

SOPAM - so what?

SOPAM - so what?

29 January 2014

The new School Organisation Regulations have come into force today, making a number of key and interesting changes in relation to the maintained sector.

The new regulations streamline and simplifies the statutory process to making prescribed alterations, including the removal of consultation, reduction in length of representation and complete removal of the statutory process in some areas.

Although these seem like positives for the maintained sector, schools in areas where they are competing for pupils will need to be aware that the less prescriptive requirements will mean they need to be more vigilant of local changes. A local school may decide to change status or expand year groups, making themselves more attractive to parents. The regulations no longer require local schools to specifically notify other schools, they only have to notify 'other persons they think appropriate'. As school place competition hots up, this may be where schools start to edge away and look to position themselves away from other local schools.

related opinions

Government guidance on Higher Education - updated

On 30th September, the government updated its guidance to universities on re-opening their buildings and campuses.

Government guidance on Covid-19 for Higher Education (HE) institutions

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on new measures to tackle Coronavirus, and with students about to start new terms, the government has updated its guidance to universities to make their buildings and campuses as safe as possible.

Government announces ten-year programme of school rebuilding

Ambitious funding plans, announced recently by the Prime Minister, have made clear that spending on school buildings is seen as a key element of efforts to stimulate the economy post-COVID.

Members of academy trusts have fiduciary duties

We are increasingly asked are there any limits on how members can exercise their powers.

View all blogs

Laura Murphy

Associate

mailing list sign up

Select which mailings you would like to receive from us.

Sign up