United Kingdom: Education

The Office for Students has launched a consultation on regulatory guidance for new free speech conditions in English higher education, set to take effect in April 2027. These conditions will require institutions to align their governing documents with free speech duties and maintain adequate governance arrangements, while also establishing ongoing compliance obligations that could significantly reshape institutional operations and board responsibilities.

The 2026 update to Keeping Children Safe in Education introduces the most significant changes in years, requiring all staff to read comprehensive safeguarding guidance and implementing new requirements for online safety monitoring and mobile phone restrictions. Schools must now conduct annual filtering and monitoring reviews led by senior leadership, while creating mobile-phone free environments by default under new statutory requirements.

The Department for Education has introduced significant changes to the Academy Trust Handbook 2026, effective from 1 October 2026, strengthening expectations around governance, financial sustainability, procurement, inclusion, executive remuneration and transparency. This briefing note provides academy trusts with a comprehensive overview of the main regulatory changes and outlines the practical steps trustees, accounting officers and executive leaders should be taking now to ensure compliance with the new

School leaders are facing an unprecedented surge in parental complaints, with 90% reporting that parents escalate to formal stages more quickly than before and nearly half approaching breaking point. This comprehensive guide reveals the six distinct types of complainants schools encounter and provides practical frameworks for managing each effectively, from swift informal resolution to handling persistent or AI-enhanced complaints that threaten to overwhelm leadership capacity.

Understanding how to support a child with cerebral palsy involves creating a comprehensive plan that addresses their unique strengths and challenges across movement, communication, education, and daily independence. This guide explores the practical therapies, equipment, home adaptations, and community resources that can help children with cerebral palsy thrive, while also examining when medical negligence may have contributed to the condition and how compensation claims can fund long-term care needs.

Browne Jacobson's response to the government's EOTAS consultation raises fundamental concerns about proposed reforms to education provision for children unable to attend mainstream settings. The firm challenges key aspects including the removal of Tribunal appeal rights, unclear funding mechanisms, and the transfer of commissioning responsibilities to schools without adequate financial support. Will the proposed framework adequately protect vulnerable children, or does it risk creating new gaps in accountab

When Family Court proceedings reach your school, getting it right depends on three things: handling disclosures properly, referring to Children's Services without delay, and complying with court orders accurately and on time.

If a child or young person with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is placed in accommodation in a different local authority's area, responsibility for that EHCP can shift to the receiving authority.

Parents seeking to accompany their child studying at an independent UK school face specific visa requirements and restrictions. Understanding the eligibility criteria, financial thresholds, and application process is essential for those considering this immigration route. What are the key requirements and limitations that parents must navigate when applying for this specialized visa category?