The team offers a full suite of services to all levels of the education sector, including multi-academy trusts, independent schools and further and higher educational institutions.

Services offered include property, employment and HR, data protection, corporate and governance advice.  The team has seen an increase in advice about data protection issues in an education context.

The team is a high-performing player in the East Anglia education sector; we handle the legal aspects of converting schools to academies, while advising existing academies on how to become multi-academy trusts.

Following the Government initiative in 2010, we converted our first school in 2012 and today offer our full range of legal services to a number of academies. These services include providing expert advice on school building projects, governance, HR and employment matters.

Contact our specialist Education Solicitors in East Anglia

For practical Education Law advice, get in touch with our lawyers in CambridgeBury St EdmundsIpswich, and Norwich.

For more information or to set up an initial consultation:

  • Give us a call on 0330 404 0767; or
  • Fill in our simple online enquiry form and we will be in touch shortly.

Our Education Solicitors’ expertise

The Ashtons Legal Education Team is experienced in advising on the particular needs of multi-academy trusts, schools and higher educational institutions:

  • Academies and MATs, including academy conversions
  • Employment and HR
  • Discrimination in Education
  • HR Training
  • Education Property
  • Independent Schools
  • Dispute Resolution/Litigation
  • Higher Education, including Cambridge Colleges
  • Handling Student Grievance/Disciplinary/Fitness to Practice and other procedures.

Our Education Law Services

Employment and HR

As a team of employment lawyers and HR specialists, we understand the challenges that employers may face on a daily basis, which is why we can be on hand to answer any queries that you may have about HR Management. Whether you’re trying to calculate an employee’s pro rata annual leave entitlement or need to carry out a disciplinary investigation, we have the knowledge and expertise to advise you on best practices and support you through any process.

HR Training

Our annual programme of online training covers a diverse range of topics relating to HR Management and Employment Law. Alternatively, we can offer bespoke sessions tailored to your exact requirements, held at a time and a venue to suit you. We have offices across East Anglia and can travel to you or can provide you with our own training facilities. Some of the topics we have covered recently include:

  • Disciplinary/Grievance Investigations
  • Data Protection
  • Performance Management
  • Employee Engagement
  • Financial Wellbeing
  • Handling Difficult Conversations.

Discrimination in Education

The provisions of the Equality Act 2010 don’t just apply to your employees but to your pupils as well. As an education provider, it’s essential that you don’t discriminate in any of these areas:

  • admissions
  • the provision of education
  • school policies and procedures relating to – for example, discipline, exams and school uniforms
  • access to benefits, facilities or services, including school meals, sports and other activities, school trips, libraries and IT facilities, careers services and information
    exclusions.

Handling Student Grievances/Disciplinary/Fitness to Practice and other procedures

We have significant experience in advising universities and education institutions in relation to disciplinary investigations and hearings concerning both academic and non-academic misconduct. We advise universities in relation to student claims and complaints, including grievances and claims for discrimination.

We can advise on whether procedures followed by the education institution are fair and fit for purpose and provide support that is tailored and nuanced, depending on the issues at stake and the approach of the education provider.

Our specialist Education team draws on our experienced regulatory and employment teams, and our advice extends to assisting with the Office for the Independent Adjudicator complaints process and defending judicial review claims.

Property Services

We work with our educational clients on all aspects of property – operational and strategic purchases, investment sales and acquisitions and the full breadth of landlord and tenant work. We advise on shared equity schemes, student accommodation, academy conversion and collaboration with other educational bodies.

Dispute Resolution

We have a team of highly experienced litigators who specialise and act on behalf of our educational clients. We are instructed to act and advise on a broad range of issues, such as disability discrimination complaints, outstanding unpaid fees, defending claims made by parents and challenging funding decisions.

Who can we help?

Whether you’re a head teacher, chair of the governors, Bursar, HR Professional or the school business manager, you’ll soon learn that we can provide expert, specialist advice on most legal aspects relating to academies. Building a well-deserved reputation for excellence in this area.

Why choose our Education Solicitors?

Having converted 40 schools to academy status and advised in relation to many more, the team has carved out a niche expertise in this area of education law.

Clients praise for the team include:

  • ‘The customer service is excellent and the team are committed to understanding exactly what our challenge may be and doing everything possible to resolve and support.’ Legal 500
  • ‘Regardless of the situation in terms of complexity, the process they follow and advice they provide is always trusted.’ Chambers & Partners
  • ‘The individuals dealing with our business are keen to ensure we fully understand the legal position.’ Ashtons Legal client
  • ‘The Ashtons team are always available and deliver great turnaround times on urgent matters.’ Chambers & Partners

Meet our Education Lawyers

Our senior-led team boasts many decades of combined experience and in-depth expertise in the education sector. Our team consists of:

Contact our specialist Education Law Solicitors in East Anglia

For practical Education Law advice, as well as any other business legal advice you need to reach your goals, get in touch with our Education Lawyers in CambridgeBury St EdmundsIpswich and Norwich.

To set up an initial consultation:

  • Give us a call on 0330 404 0767; or
  • Fill in our simple online enquiry form and we will be in touch shortly.


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