Be connected: Schools and academy trusts, Autumn 2025

01 October 2025

Welcome to the first edition of be connected of the new academic year, featuring the latest legal updates, sector insights, expert advice and guidance from our dedicated team of education lawyers and HR consultants.

In this issue, we consider what the new White Paper and changes to Ofsted inspections mean for the sector, explore the latest legal developments impacting employers and share a range of support to help you handle the challenges of the new term:

New policy and sector developments
Legal and regulatory developments
Support and guidance
Upcoming events
Webinars
Training and professional development.

New policy and sector developments

Ofsted unveils major inspection framework changes

Ofsted has confirmed significant reforms to school inspections, ending single-phrase overall effectiveness judgements, while introducing a new five-point grading scale across six core evaluation areas.

While aimed at addressing long-standing concerns about inspection consistency and impact on school staff, questions remain about whether these reforms constitute genuine institutional change, or merely rebranded terminology.

Read our full analysis of what these changes mean for your school, and how to prepare for the new inspection approach.

Schools White Paper: SEND reform, behaviour changes and other expectations

Since the government announced the Schools White Paper in the spending review, education leaders have been anticipating significant changes to SEND provision, pupil behaviour policies, and school accountability.

We explore what school leaders can expect and prepare for, including:

SEND reform likely shifting more responsibility to mainstream schools, with the possibility that changes may only apply only to new EHCP applications, potentially creating a two-tier system.
New behaviour management expectations may place greater emphasis on parental responsibility.
School complaints processes are set for streamlining to reduce duplication across multiple bodies.

Academy Trust Handbook 2025

The latest edition of the Academy Trust Handbook is now in effect.

We offer our thoughts and reflections on some of the key themes from the new handbook that trustees and executive teams may wish to consider, as well as sharing advice on what the updated handbook means for executive pay.

EHRC taking regulatory action concerning single-sex spaces

The EHRC is cracking down on organisations that have misinterpreted equality law around single-sex spaces, and schools are among those in the firing line.

Following a government call for evidence and a landmark Supreme Court ruling clarifying the meaning of 'Sex' under the Equality Act, the Commission has identified organisations with policies that wrongly suggest people can access single-sex facilities based on self-identified gender rather than biological sex.

These organisations must now withdraw their current policies and provide revised versions that comply with the law – a wake-up call for school leaders to urgently review their own guidance on changing rooms, toilets, and other single-sex provisions.

Martyn's Law is coming, are you ready?

The new Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act will require all schools and academies with a 200+ capacity to implement emergency preparedness procedures including evacuation, lockdown, and communication protocols, with financial penalties for non-compliance.

While the government provides a 24-month implementation period, now is the time to start reviewing your risk assessments, training staff, and understanding your obligations as the responsible person to ensure a smooth transition when the Law takes effect.

The latest on the Employment Rights Bill

The Employment Rights Bill will impose significant changes in how schools engage and manage staff, as well as some aspects which will be particularly impactful in the education sector including changes to trade union laws, express protection against dismissal for participating in industrial action and the reinstatement of the School Support Staff Negotiating Body.

With Royal Assent expected by late October 2025, but most provisions not taking effect until 2026/2027, schools have time to prepare – but should start reviewing policies now.

How should academy trusts be preparing for procurement reform?

Later this month, the Procurement Act 2023 finally comes into force, going live on 28 October 2025. The new Act brings significant reform, so trusts should be prepared, and we can help.

We recently ran a webinar where we explained the changes and took attendees through the practical steps you need to take for your trust to be ready, including changes to your documents, planning for new procurement, and getting the proper sign-off for changes to policies and procedures.

If you missed out, then this free webinar is available to watch on-demand, open to all, and is presented by our expert procurement and trust governance lawyers.

Watch now

New identity verification requirements for trusts

From 18 November 2025, all academy trust directors and Persons with Significant Control (PSCs) will be required to complete identity verification with Companies House under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023.

While the mandatory compliance date is still several months away, we strongly recommend that school leaders begin the free digital verification process now to avoid last-minute delays and ensure smooth future filings. We’ve prepared detailed guidance and advice on how this is likely to affect you.

Safeguarding challenges to overcome 2025-26

While the latest Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSiE) 2025 guidance landed over the summer with little fanfare or change there are still some significant challenges schools face this academic year.

Child protection expert Dai Durbridge shares his advice on the top safeguarding challenges facing schools and trusts this academic year.

School admissions: A guide to parental rights

With more families seeking guidance, schools are looking for effective ways to manage deferred or delayed entry, part-time attendance, and admissions outside the normal age group, and we’re receiving an increasing number of queries relating to these issues. There’s often confusion around how these rights and processes interact, particularly with reference to 'summer-born children'.

In this guide, we share our top tips and address some of the most common queries to help your school navigate these challenges.

Multi-academy trust mergers: Latest guidance

Recent high-profile MAT mergers are creating education powerhouses – and it's the sector itself driving this growth, not government pressure. Our latest guidance with the NGA reveals the strategic thinking behind these transformative deals.

School estate and workplace risk: Is radon on your radar?

Radon gas is an invisible, naturally occurring radioactive threat that every school must assess and manage – yet many educational leaders remain unaware of their legal obligations. Recent prosecutions, including a criminal case against Kingswood School in Bath, demonstrate the serious consequences of failing to monitor and control radon levels in school buildings.

With action levels set at 300 becquerels per cubic metre and potential fines running into hundreds of thousands of pounds, school leaders in radon-affected areas must urgently review their risk assessments, implement monitoring programmes, and ensure that their health and safety policies address this silent but potentially deadly workplace hazard.

Protect your school's construction investment: Understanding limitation periods

A simple administrative choice during contract signing can mean the difference between having legal recourse for building defects and being left without protection when issues emerge years later.

Supporting neurodiverse staff in the education sector

With Employment Tribunal claims related to neurodiversity rising sharply, education sector employers must proactively support neurodiverse staff under the Equality Act. If you haven’t already, you should review your policies to ensure compliance and create inclusive workplace cultures.

New tools for supporting SEND pupils

The SEND system is in crisis. There is a lack of consistency, and an overly complex, inefficient system for issuing Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

While there's no easy, overnight solution to these issues, we can help. Our new SEND support pack for schools offers resources and templates to use throughout the EHCP process and beyond, helping ensure that legal obligations are met within their respective timescales.

Back to school... are you ready for what this term has in store?

In readiness for the new academic year, we brought together all the support, guidance, and tools you need to help you prepare.

Sector events: Will we see you there?

We’re speaking at many of the major sector events taking place this term, so if you’re in attendance then it’d be great to catch up! Come and say hello at:

The Optimus Child Protection in Education Conference

2 October 2025, Manchester

Dai Durbridge will be giving advice on the biggest safeguarding challenges schools currently face.

Find out more

Schools North East annual Summit 2025

16 October 2025, Newcastle

Tom Mitchell will be ready to help troubleshoot your employment and HR issues.

Find out more

CST Annual Conference

16-17 October 2025, Birmingham

Nick MacKenzie and Claire Archibald will be delivering a workshop on AI governance on day one, and we’ll be available throughout the conference to field any questions you may have.

Emma Hughes will be in attendance on both days. Mark Blois will be available throughout day two of the conference, and Philip Wood will be on hand during day two.

Find out more

DSLS Annual School Leadership Conference 2025

16-17 October 2025, Devon

Our team will be on hand to advise and provide practical support on any legal and HR challenges you face.

Find out more

CST People and Culture Conference

11 November 2025, Birmingham

Join Emma Hughes and Heather Mitchell’s workshop to explore how values-led workforce decisions can allow trusts to flourish even in financially challenging times.

Find out more

FAIRE: The big one

Encourage your year 10,11 and sixth form students to join Browne Jacobson's FAIRE event on 28 October – it’s a free virtual work experience day designed to break down socio-economic barriers in law.

With over 80,000 participants to date, this flagship event connects aspiring lawyers with industry leaders through workshops, career guidance, and keynote speeches.  As part of our commitment to social mobility, FAIRE helps ensure the legal profession reflects the society it serves by providing equal access to career opportunities for all backgrounds.

Webinars

Data (Use and Access) Act 2025: What schools and trusts need to know

On-demand

After a lengthy legislative journey, the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 has finally made it into statute books, and it makes some important changes that will impact schools and academy trusts.

In this webinar, your expert data protection team of Beth Paliga, Claire Archibald and Dai Durbridge talk through the changes and set out what you need to do now.

Watch now

AI at the coalface: Navigating the practicalities in education

On-demand

Artificial intelligence is here and it’s rapidly being integrated into every sector. But what does its adoption really look like on the ground? And what are the hidden challenges and surprising wins that leaders are discovering?

We held a panel discussion with special guests including Lauren Thorpe, Chief Transformation Officer, United Learning, James Browning, COO, Lift Schools and Graham Feek, Deputy CEO, Greenwood Academies Trust who are actively implementing AI and shaping its governance within their trusts.

Watch now

School exclusions: A review of the latest developments and looking to the year ahead  

On-demand

With a series of developments and learnings from recent exclusions cases, this webinar offers school and trust leaders the opportunity to ensure their school exclusions governance is up to date, efficient, and fair in readiness for the next academic year.

Watch now

Training and professional development

Expert-led training and development new cohorts announced

We’re pleased to announce the next cohorts of our popular continuous professional development (CPD) programmes, which are available now to book for the new academic year:

Places are limited and some of these programmes only have a few places left, so register now to secure your place and avoid disappointment.

Find out more

Gain educational leadership insights and inspiration

Series 5 of our popular EdInfluence podcast is off to a flying start! Host Nick MacKenzie sits down with Andrew Warren, who’s remarkable 40-year journey from primary headteacher to Department for Education Regional Director offers invaluable insights for current and aspiring leaders.

In this compelling conversation, Andrew shares the extraordinary story of the impact of a simple "Make me proud" note on a pupil, demonstrating the profound impact of authentic leadership connection.

Listen now via your preferred podcast channel to discover how genuine connection can revolutionise your approach to leadership, and catch-up on Series 4 here.

Listen now