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

Time for DfE to loosen property grip to aid school income

Time for DfE to loosen property grip to aid school income?

27 November 2014

Browne Jacobson’s second annual survey of school leaders highlights clear concerns regarding funding within the education sector, with 75% of school leaders surveyed expressing dissatisfaction with government funding policy.

A significant number (30%) see fundraising through trading activities as a major priority. Maximising income from the school’s property portfolio may be something that schools wish to look into, be it by way of the grant of leases for commercial activities (gaining income through rent), hiring arrangements (for example, the use of sports facilities by community users), or freehold sales. However, the restrictions imposed under the legislation and, for academies, the Academies Financial Handbook and Funding Agreement, may make it difficult (but not impossible) to do so since the DfE are understandably keen to ensure that school land is retained for educational purposes, particularly playing fields.

If schools are to be able to truly harness the income generation potential of their land and buildings, DfE may have to loosen the restrictions on dealing with school land.

Related opinions

Schools face scrutiny over Covid-19 vaccinations for children

On 4 June, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved the use of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds.

School not liable for reckless actions of a student

The decision reinforces that the standard of the duty of care owed by schools is one or reasonableness.

Avoiding grade challenges on ‘unconscious bias’

A system based on teacher assessed grades, rather than external exams, was inevitably going to give rise to speculation about bias and objectivity in teacher assessment and grading decisions. Schools can prepare now for these kinds of challenges by ensuring that they have clear written evidence readily available.

Teachers report inadequate training on peer-on-peer abuse

Despite the increased media and regulatory focus on peer-on-peer abuse within schools, teachers are still reporting that they feel undertrained and ill-equipped to recognise and respond to allegations and incidents.

View all blogs

Chris Emm

Legal Director

Mailing list sign up

Select which mailings you would like to receive from us.

Sign up