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What to do when a loved one dies
Katie Gale
06.04.2021
The loss of a loved one, whether it be a friend or a family member, can be an overwhelming time for many reasons. Not only do you have to learn to find ways to deal with your grief, but there are many practical matters that need to be dealt with and it can be hard […]
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Discretionary Trusts in wills
Krupa Thakker
29.03.2021
Making a Will can be a daunting task, especially when you are trying to plan for a number of different scenarios – none of us can predict the future. Not being able to decide how you would want your estate to be distributed does not have to be an excuse to delay making a Will […]
Blog
Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) for business owners
Naomi Wilkes
22.03.2021
What is an LPA? An LPA is a legal document that allows you (the donor) to appoint representatives (attorneys) to make decisions on your behalf. There are two types of LPA: Property and Financial Affairs LPA and Health and Welfare LPA. Both types must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before they […]
Blog
A guide to personal injury trusts
Peter Stagg
15.03.2021
Clients who suffer personal injuries and are awarded compensation are often advised to set up what is known as a “Personal Injury Trust”. The reasons for this are set out in our previous blog which can be found here. However, we are often asked how exactly do you use a Personal Injury Trust, once it […]
Blog
Schools – the extended furlough scheme
Adam McRae-Taylor
11.03.2021
The furlough scheme is helping a large number of schools to reduce their overheads at a time when their revenue has been reduced by fee discounts and in some cases pupils not returning in September 2020. Boarding schools have been particularly affected with some pupils opting to remain in their home countries, even as schools […]
Blog
Keeping children safe in education – January 2021 update
Adam McRae-Taylor
10.03.2021
To reflect the end of the Brexit transition period, the Government has updated Keeping Children Safe in Education. The relevant paragraphs that you need to be aware of are: 149. From 01 January 2021 the TRA Teacher Services system will no longer maintain a list of those teachers who have been sanctioned in EEA member […]
Blog
Parent contract – time for an update?
Olivia Stanton
10.03.2021
The closure of schools due to Covid-19 has been an unprecedented challenge. In addition to the difficulties associated with remote learning, independent schools have had to contend with parents questioning whether the education being delivered justifies the fees being charged. In particular, we have seen parents challenging the fees due for examination year groups where […]
Blog
Back to school after lockdown 3 – Q&A
Ben Collingwood
10.03.2021
The news that pupils would be returning to school on 8 March threw up lots of questions and concerns from school staff, whether those working in the classroom, office, reception or school grounds. Below, we’ve focused on the most common questions asked of us on this issue in recent weeks. The advice we offer here […]
Blog
Unqualified prep-school teacher succeeds in claims for unfair dismissal and age discrimination and is awarded over £140,000 – Sue Allington v Grange Rose Hill School Limited (the School)
Joanna Lada-Walicki
10.03.2021
The School, an independent co-ed prep school for children aged 3-13 in Tunbridge Wells, Kent dismissed Sue Allington, aged 60, for refusing to accept a change to her employment contract, namely a requirement to undertake study to obtain a Level 6 degree or QTS or, alternatively, accept a demotion to a teaching assistant role. Mrs […]
Blog
Teachers’ pensions – a continuing issue
Adam McRae-Taylor
10.03.2021
The last 12 months have been some of the hardest the independent schools sector has had to face. Attention has naturally focused on the immediate educational impact of the COVID-19 crisis, and battling to keep schools running as ‘normally’ as possible amidst the winter surge in coronavirus cases. However, as the pandemic’s financial impact bites, […]
Blog
Teacher-assessed grades this summer
Joanna Lada-Walicki
10.03.2021
For the second year running, responsibility falls on teachers to award exam grades to their students. After the fiasco of last summer which saw a controversial algorithm in place to moderate results (later withdrawn following a backlash from students and parents), the government has announced a return to teacher assessed grades, having given assurances that […]
Blog
World Glaucoma Week 2021
Deborah Powlesland
10.03.2021
It’s World Glaucoma Week (7 – 13 March 2021), an initiative of the World Glaucoma Association (WGA). The aim is to raise awareness of this potentially devastating eye condition which is one of the leading causes of blindness. Over half a million people in the UK have glaucoma. For more information about its symptoms, diagnosis […]
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