Academy trusts and schools have a wide range of stakeholders and assets to protect as well as their statutory duties to hold appropriate insurance cover. In addition to the available traditional commercial insurance cover, the DfE’s Risk Protection Arrangement (RPA) has offered an alternative to insurance since 1 September 2014 for academies, free schools, UTCs, studio schools and has more recently extended to local authority maintained schools. The RPA protects against losses due to unforeseen and unexpected events but will also cover risks normally included in a standard school insurance policy.
Whatever route you decide to take, our team has the experience and expertise in this area to provide you with all your legal support. We’ve represented schools for over 20 years on a wide variety of insurance related matters, from simple third-party liability claims through to managing high-profile significant events that require sensitivity and support for school personnel. Our specialist litigation, education and employment lawyers have provided comprehensive support to schools on the full range of claims, including defendant personal injury, defamation, discrimination, employment, property damage and commercial disputes.
We have acted for all the major insurance providers in the schools sector and are appointed to handle claims arising under the RPA, having supported the DfE and their claims administrators in the introduction of the RPA.
Successfully defended a claim brought by a sixth form pupil who suffered a significant injury while climbing over locked school gates.
Successfully defended a number of claims brought for discrimination arising from alleged failures to make reasonable adjustments for disabilities.
Secured a successful recovery for a school in a substantial breach of contract claim against a contractor.
Successfully represented a school/local authority in a leading reported high court case involving a child absconding from the school and suffering injury.
"Another strength for the group lies in defending clients in litigation, including employment and SEND matters. The department is highly recommended for safeguarding work, drafting policies and procedures as well as representing clients during investigations involving high-profile issues such as staff arrests, pupil deaths and suicides."
"… extremely clear and transparent in their communication with clients ensuring that there is thorough understanding at different levels within the organisation which makes the process of engagement a much more enjoyable and seamless exercise. One key strength is their ability to recognise and share best practice in order to inform future development and improvement."
"They are effective, efficient and user-friendly."
"The firm presents itself impeccably and has admirable capabilities - individuals within the team are clearly immensely knowledgeable."
Browne Jacobson’s education team has been named as winner of the ‘Legal Advisors to Education Institutions’ category at the Education Investor Awards 2022 for a record sixth time.
Over 3000 young people from across the UK and Ireland took part in a virtual legal careers insight event, aimed at making the legal profession more diverse.
The new set of Legal 500 directory rankings have been published and we are proud to once again be recognised as one of the country’s leading firms advising the Education sector.
National law firm Browne Jacobson has grown its team behind its dedicated Space + Time executive coaching programme with the addition of two more qualified coaches who will work with clients in the education sector.
Tomorrow, (Wednesday 27th October), national law firm Browne Jacobson will host its second FAIRE: virtual work experience and legal careers insight event, in partnership with Young Professionals.
The Confederation of School Trusts (CST), as the sector body for School Trusts, today releases a salary benchmarking service for executive roles in School Trusts, in conjunction with partners XpertHR, Cendex and Browne Jacobson.
The decision reinforces that the standard of the duty of care owed by schools is one or reasonableness.
The ‘Everyone’s Invited’ movement has over 9,000 testimonies on its website and, whilst it has recently taken the step to anonymise everything on the platform, a number of schools have been named.
Throughout 2020, journalists and politicians stressed the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on holiday and travel plans for individuals and households. However, the pandemic has also affected countless school trips, giving rise to legal issues such as schools’ financial exposure to cancellation fees and deposit refunds.
