Category: Management
Failure to take reasonably practicable measures to control COVID-19
Following the death of an employee in January 2021, who had tested positive for COVID-19, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has recently fined Burnley College for failing to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety and welfare of its staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. The HSE investigated the circumstances surrounding the […]
Read MoreData protection and COVID-19 updated guidance
Following the relaxation of government measures, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has set out guidance for organisations to consider relating to the use of personal information. The ICO advises organisations to review their practices, in order to decide whether the information they have been collecting is still necessary. The questions the ICO recommends asking are: […]
Read MoreFreedom of information decision notice
This recent case (Decision Notice against Batley Grammar School) sets out the obligations on a public authority when a freedom of information (FOI) request is made. On 14 December 2021, the complainant requested the minutes of governors, committee, and academy member meetings for the school from September 2018 to present. The complainant wrote to the school […]
Read MoreFree checks to protect against cyber attacks
Two National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) cyber security services, which are already helping thousands of organisations to protect their websites and email servers from cyber attacks, are now available to all UK schools. Both tools are available free of charge, are quick to set up, and thereafter run automatically. Free website check The first service, […]
Read MoreSpecial consideration – key stage 2 SATs guidance
The DfE has just updated (25 April 2022) its guidance for schools on the circumstances under which pupils can be given special consideration when they sit their KS2 tests later this term because their results could be affected by traumatic circumstances at the time of the tests. The guidance makes it clear that there is […]
Read MoreDo governors have a contract of employment?
In Mr D B Clarke v Governing Body of Lakeview School, the employment tribunal (ET) considered whether the claimant had a case for claiming race discrimination. Facts of the case Mr Clarke applied for the role of a governor at Lakeview School. His application was unsuccessful and he was notified of this on 9 October 2020. On […]
Read MoreSEND review – government green paper
The government green paper SEND review – right support, right place, right time was jointly presented to parliament on 29 March 2022 by the Education Secretary, Nadhim Zahawi and the Health and Social Care Secretary, Sajid Javid. It represents the culmination of a review of SEND provision that began nearly three years ago. Builds on 2014 […]
Read MoreOpportunity for all – government white paper
The government published on 28 March 2022 a schools white paper entitled Opportunity for all: strong schools with great teachers for your child. In his introduction to the document, the Education Secretary, Nadhim Zahawi, says that his vision for the white paper and the SEND review alongside it is ‘to introduce and implement standards that will […]
Read MoreRecord keeping and retention of information
A new document, Record keeping and retention of information by academies and academy trusts, was published by the ESFA on 22 February 2022. It updates the details of what records should be kept by an academy or academy trust. For further information refer to the Academy Trust Handbook and the Academies Toolkit from the Information and […]
Read MoreDates and deadlines
Here is a reminder of the important dates and deadlines for schools and academies for the spring term 2022 and into the summer term. This list is certainly not exhaustive, but we hope we have highlighted the majority of significant items. Inevitably, however, these dates could change because of the continued impact of COVID-19. January […]
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