Strategic planning for independent schools in a time of significant change

This autumn, Stone King is holding a series of online sessions to help independent schools prepare for the challenges that are likely to evolve over the next 18 months.

Key lawyers from our Independent Schools Team, together with colleagues from the ISBA, AGBIS and pension specialists Lane Clare & Peacock, will take you through the legal position on a range of current issues, including an update to our webinar which considered the issues posed by a potential Labour government following the October Labour party conference, an update on governor safeguarding in light of the new KCSIE and inspection framework, the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (and possible challenges that may arise as a result of leaving it), as well as school mergers and acquisitions.

All the webinars in this series highlight the importance of preparation and a strong strategic plan. To assist, Stone King is offering fixed-priced strategic support, where one of our senior independent school specialist partners will attend a governors’ meeting to provide support and guidance in considering the options that are most relevant for your specific school context. Please see the details of this Strategic Support Offer here.

Date: Wednesday 13 September 2023

Start - 2:00 pm
Finish - 3:00 pm

Following the annual update of Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), Stone King will be providing governors with a clear strategic oversight of their safeguarding responsibilities. This webinar will outline how governors can hold their senior leaders to account through a whole school culture, pupil voice and effective policy implementation.

Speakers:

Cheryl Connelly, Director of Training & Membership (Deputy CEO), AGBIS
Helen Tucker, Head of Independent Schools, Stone King LLP
Harriet Broughton, Partner, Stone King LLP

To register for this webinar, please click here.

Date: Tuesday 10 October

Start - 10:00 am
Finish - 11:15 am

By the end of October, it is expected that the increased employer contributions payable to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) from next year will be known. However, an increase to nearly 29% has been flagged up as being likely. This will inevitably require schools to consider carefully whether this can and should be afforded going forward, and the alternative options.This timely session will therefore cover the following:

What the new TPS employer contribution rate is expected to be, and when it will apply from;
How you can respond to the cost increases -– a recap of the options available to schools;
Emerging trends in schools’ proposals to teachers;
Consultation experience – learnings from schools that have followed alternative options to TPS.

This session will be led by experts from the TPS advisory team at LCP, ISBA's retained actuaries, and Harriet Broughton, Partner in the Employment team at Stone King. It will be suitable for schools considering how best to respond to the latest expected TPS cost increases, including those heading towards consultation.

Speakers:

John Murphie, COO, ISBA
Richard Soldan, FIA, Lane Clark & Peacock LLP
Luke Hothersall, FIA, Lane Clark & Peacock LLP
Harriet Broughton, Partner, Stone King LLP

To register your place, please click here.

Date: Friday 13 October 2023

Start - 2:00 pm
Finish - 3:00pm

We now have greater clarity from Labour with regard to their likely stance on independent schools, in particular their intention to focus on taxes rather than on charitable status. This appears to be a clarification of the rhetoric of the last year or so and represents an expedient approach to the main focus of Labour’s plans: the imposition of VAT on school fees. The devil will no doubt continue to be in the detail as to how this policy will be imposed and the extent of the tax changes to be made.

This webinar, run in conjunction with the ISBA and to be held shortly after the last party conference, will reflect on these developments and consider the comments coming out of the party conference season. The webinar will build on the issues covered in our webinar on this topic held back in February, which explored the implications of a Labour government.

Speakers:

David Woodgate, Chief Executive Offcer, ISBA
Helen Tucker, Head of Independent Schools, Stone King LLP
Stephen Ravenscroft, Head of Charity Sector, Stone King LLP

To register your place, please click here.

Date: Friday 10 November 2023

Start - 10:00
Finish - 11:00

As a result of wider economic headwinds, as well as political pressures, the independent schools' sector is facing a period of change and uncertainty. Against this backdrop, we are seeing an increasing amount of merger activity in the sector. Therefore, the purpose of this webinar is to reflect on our experience to date and to explore the key considerations for all schools, whether actively considering merger or not.

Speakers:

Helen Tucker, Head of Independent Schools, Stone King LLP
Stephen Ravenscroft, Head of Charity Sector, Stone King LLP

To register for this webinar, please click here.