Our expertise
Academy Conversions
Converting to academy status involves complex legal, governance, property and employment considerations. Geldards Education provides practical advice and proactive project management to guide schools and trusts through every stage of the conversion process.
Academy Re-Organisations
Academy re-organisations require careful planning across governance, staffing, property and operational arrangements. Geldards Education helps trusts manage restructuring, growth, mergers and rebrokering with clear advice and coordinated legal support.
Academy Transfers
Moving an academy from one trust to another requires careful planning and clear communication. Our team helps schools and trusts manage the legal workstreams and support a smooth transition for pupils, staff and the wider school community.
Admissions
School admissions require fair processes, clear policies and well-documented decisions. Geldards Education supports schools and trusts with admission arrangements, fair access protocols, appeals and complex challenges.
Brand Protection
Protection for school and trust names, logos, trade marks, domain names and brand use, helping education providers safeguard their identity, reputation and future growth.
Buying and Selling Independent Schools
Transactional support for buying and selling independent schools, covering due diligence, property, staff, contracts, safeguarding and regulatory risk from initial planning through to completion.
Buying and Selling Nurseries
Clear, practical legal support to help you buy or sell a nursery with confidence, from due diligence through to completion.
Capital Projects
From early estate planning and funding decisions to procurement, construction and completion, our team helps education providers manage risk and deliver capital projects with confidence.
Collaboration and shared services
Support with collaboration agreements, shared services, partnerships and joint ventures, covering governance, staffing, data, intellectual property, funding and exit arrangements.
Commercial Contracts
Clear commercial contracts help education providers manage suppliers, control costs and protect essential services. Geldards Education advises on drafting, reviewing, negotiating and managing contracts across the education sector.
Commercial Groups and Investors
Strategic support for education investments, acquisitions and growth projects, covering due diligence, structuring, property, employment, safeguarding and regulatory risk.
Company and Corporate Law
Practical corporate legal advice to nurseries, schools, academy trusts, colleges, universities and education businesses. We support mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, restructures, governance reviews and investment projects across the education sector.
Complaints
Clear legal advice helps schools, trusts, nurseries and other education providers manage complaints fairly and consistently. Support covers parental complaints, procedures, panels, persistent complainants, exclusions and safeguarding concerns.
Crisis Management
Practical legal support helps schools, trusts, nurseries and other education providers respond to serious incidents calmly and effectively. Advice covers safeguarding, investigations, communications, regulatory duties and post-crisis recovery.
Data Protection
Practical advice on data protection in education, including UK GDPR compliance, staff training, data sharing, breaches and ICO notifications.
Data Protection & Freedom of Information
Practical advice on policies, subject access requests, FOI requests, data breaches, privacy notices, data sharing and compliance, helping education leaders respond confidently and reduce legal and reputational risk.
Disability Discrimination Claims
Practical advice on disability discrimination claims, reasonable adjustments, Equality Act duties, complaints, exclusions and tribunal proceedings, helping education providers manage risk and make fair, well-documented decisions.
Dispute Resolution & Litigation
Support with disputes, litigation, judicial review, contract issues, complaints, mediation and settlement, helping education providers protect their position and resolve matters efficiently.
Education law
Legal support across governance, safeguarding, SEND, admissions, exclusions, employment, data protection, contracts and disputes, helping education providers manage risk and act with
Education policies
Keep education policies clear, current and practical with legal advice on DfE updates, KCSIE requirements and wider school policy reviews.
Employment and HR
Geldards Education provides practical employment and HR advice to schools, nurseries, academy trusts, colleges and universities. We support education employers with day-to-day staffing issues, complex disputes, policies, restructures and ongoing HR retainers.
Equality Law and Human Rights
Guidance on equality duties, human rights, discrimination, freedom of expression, policies and complaints, helping education providers make fair, lawful and well-documented decisions.
Exclusions
Clear legal support for education providers managing suspensions, permanent exclusions, parental challenges, SEND issues and exclusion procedures.
Governance
Practical advice on school and academy trust governance, including schemes of delegation, trustee duties, compliance and governance disputes.
Governance Reviews
Strengthen governance with practical reviews of board structures, schemes of delegation, decision-making, compliance and governing body effectiveness.
Immigration Law
Advice on visa sponsorship, sponsor licences, Skilled Worker visas, right to work checks and UKVI compliance, helping education providers recruit and retain overseas staff with confidence.
Incident Management
Geldards Education provides clear, practical advice on incident management in education, including safeguarding, health and safety, investigations and complaints.
Insolvency and Restructuring
Advice on financial distress, insolvency, restructuring, staffing changes, governance duties and rescue options, helping education providers protect continuity and manage risk.
Intellectual Property
Geldards Education helps schools, trusts, colleges, universities and education businesses protect and manage their intellectual property. We advise on copyright, trade marks, licensing, ownership, contracts and IP disputes.
International Projects
Support for international education projects, covering funding, partnerships, contracts, governance, intellectual property, data protection and delivery risk.
International School Projects
Support for international school projects, overseas partnerships and investment, covering project structures, contracts, brand protection, governance and operational risk.
Investment
Advice across the education investment lifecycle, from due diligence and deal structuring to acquisitions, regulatory risk, growth and exit planning.
ISI inspections
From interpreting the ISI inspection framework to responding to findings, our team provides practical legal, HR and governance support that helps independent schools manage inspection risk.
Mergers
Support throughout education mergers, covering structure, due diligence, governance, funding, staff, property and post-merger integration.
Nursery Inspections
Geldards Education supports nurseries and early years providers before, during and after Ofsted inspections. We provide practical advice on inspection preparation, reports, safeguarding concerns, enforcement action and related risks.
Ofsted
Support with Ofsted inspections, investigations, report challenges, factual accuracy responses and post-inspection action, helping education providers manage risk and respond with confidence.
Parent and Provider Contracts
Geldards Education helps nurseries and early years providers draft, review and update clear parent contracts and resolve nursery contract disputes.
Parent Conduct
Legal advice on parent conduct, complaints, communication boundaries and behaviour policies for education providers.
Private Equity
Support across private equity investment in education, from due diligence and deal structuring to acquisitions, management incentives, growth and exit planning.
Procurement
Practical advice helps schools, academy trusts, colleges, universities and nurseries manage procurement, tenders and supplier arrangements with confidence. Support covers frameworks, policies, contracts, governance, compliance and procurement disputes.
Property & Estate Management
Legal support with leases, estate management, construction projects, land disposals, site sharing and property disputes, helping education providers protect their assets and plan for the future.
Pupil and Parent Issues
Help with attendance, safeguarding, behaviour, exclusions, complaints and parent communication, supporting education providers to manage sensitive issues fairly and reduce the risk of escalation.
Regulatory Compliance
Compliance support covering policies, DfE requirements, cyber risk, safeguarding, governance and regulatory reviews, helping education providers identify gaps and manage their legal duties confidently.
Reputation and Crisis Management
Geldards Education helps schools, nurseries, trusts, colleges and universities manage serious incidents and reputational risk. We provide practical advice on crisis response, communications, safeguarding, complaints, media attention and regulatory concerns.
Restructuring
Guidance through education restructures, covering consultation, staffing changes, redundancies, governance, communication and implementation.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding support for allegations, investigations, DSL decision-making, staff conduct, policies and serious incidents, helping education providers protect pupils and respond clearly to risk.
Safer Recruitment
Guidance on safer recruitment policies, DBS checks, single central records, recruitment audits and inspection compliance, helping education providers strengthen safeguarding from the outset.
SEND and EHCPs
Support with SEND duties, EHCPs, compliance, parent complaints, behaviour, attendance and tribunal risk, helping education providers make clear and well-documented decisions.
Significant changes
Guidance on significant change applications, supporting evidence, governance, finance, admissions, property, safeguarding and Department for Education approval.
Sponsors of Academies
Legal support for academy sponsors covering sponsor-led projects, due diligence, governance, staff transfers, property and post-transfer responsibilities, helping trusts manage growth and risk with confidence.
Student Issues
Support with student behaviour, discipline, safeguarding, welfare, exclusions and complex incidents, helping education providers make fair, evidence-based decisions.
Trading Companies
Advice on trading companies, income generation, governance, contracts and commercial risk, helping education providers develop sustainable opportunities while protecting their charitable purpose.