AoC Annual Conference and Exhibition 2025

• Supporting colleges in both positive and challenging situations
• Helping with key stakeholder communications and conducting negotiations, including the DfE at local and national levels, the OfS, Ofqual and Awarding Bodies
• Negotiating funding arrangements, such as with DfE and Combined Authorities
• Student related issues
• Shared and managed services
• Collaboration/joint venture arrangements, social enterprise initiatives and place-based solutions
• Mergers
• Commercial contracts - e.g. with suppliers and employers
• Education contracts -  e.g. apprenticeships and subcontracted provision
• Procurement
• Subsidy control
• Employment law
• HR advice
• Immigration advice
• Equality and diversity advice
• Estates issues - land sales, purchases, taking and granting leases, estate management
• Construction and facilities management
• Information law (data protection and freedom of information)
• Project management
• Innovative cost effective packaged services, including:
  • governance support
  • employment law and HR retainers
  • legal retainers

• Many post-reclassification refinancing arrangements, including complex arrangements for a large college involving refinancing of commercial loans post-reclassification and agreeing terms with central and local Government
• Successfully arguing for policy change to better support collaboration between colleges and schools
• Governance reviews across a full range of colleges nationally
• Apprenticeship contractual arrangements with apprentices and employers for several colleges
• Proforma contracts for the delivery of subcontracted provision for several colleges
• Advising on sixth form college academisation projects
• Supporting a number of Institutes of Technology
• Negotiating capital grant agreements across the country
• Disaggregation and double-merger of a college in distress
• Due diligence and legal advice for Boards in relation to various mergers
• Supporting a college in its plans to help rescue another college in distress, including advising on due diligence, structure and risk
• Negotiating with awarding bodies and the OfS in relation to issues which threatened the ability of a college to deliver certain higher education qualifications
• Advising several colleges on managing highly financially distressed situations, including in relation to governor duties
• Advising on senior employee/senior post holder issues
• Advising on the merger of an Awarding Body with a parent charity
• Conducting a complex GDPR compliance audit for a college across five sites
• Putting in place appropriate contractual and governance arrangements between a college and its service company as part of a new group structure
• Advising on a novel governance structure for a group which incorporates a college, multi-academy trust and private training provider

Stone King, a leading education and charities law firm, partnered with the University of Sunderland to explore the impact of governance reviews in further education colleges across England.

Governance reviews - also known as External Reviews of Governance (ERGs) - are independent evaluations of a college’s governing body, offering expert insights to improve board performance and stakeholder confidence.

Over 18 months, researchers interviewed college leaders and analysed reports from institutions reviewed by Stone King. The study examined how governance reviews drive change, the roles of key individuals, and how insights are enacted within governance frameworks.

Led by Professor Gary Husband and Visiting Professor Ron Hill, the research revealed that strong relationships between reviewers and governance professionals often led to improved board practices, better strategic focus, and enhanced risk management.

Professor Husband said: “We saw positive impacts and gained a deeper understanding of the people and processes involved. Governance isn’t just about assurance - it’s about strategy and innovation.”

Tom Morrison, Partner and Head of Further Education at Stone King, added: “This research provides the sector with evidence-based insights and highlights the vital role of Governance Professionals. We’re proud to support this work and look forward to further collaboration.”

Findings will be shared with participating colleges and key sector bodies including the AoC, ETF, DfE, and DWP. The report was officially launched at the University of Sunderland’s ‘Educational Governance in Practice’ conference, with a keynote by Vice Chancellor Sir David Bell.

Read full article here.

Please fill your contact details in here to receive a copy of the Stone King & University of Sunderland – Supporting effective college governing in England report. 

Read our thoughts on key implications for further education employers here

Read our guide to successful college collaboration here