We can provide expert legal advice on the full range of duties and responsibilities of academies and schools. This includes representation in courts and meetings when necessary. This page provides a list of the services we provide, plus information on Data protection and Freedom of information.
We have built up a bank of knowledge around schools that is unrivalled in private practice. Calderdale is part of a wide consortium of legal services. This means knowledge and expertise can be obtained from West Yorkshire wide local authorities. We can often give accurate and timely advice at short notice. This can be done by phone or email, without the need to book an appointment.
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Services and pricing for academies
Services
We can provide the following services, tailored to your academy, but this list is not exhaustive:
- Expert advice on education law;
- Expert advice and assistance relating to Data protection and Freedom of information;
- Expert advice on employment law;
- Clerking academy admission appeals;
- Drafting tailor made academy policies and procedures;
- Advice on infant class sizes;
- Licensing and copyright in academies;
- Land, property, planning and rights of way advice;
- Advice on all contractual matters, terms and conditions, European Commission (EC) regulations and academies standing orders;
- Advice on tender procedures;
- Advice on parental rights and responsibilities, contact/residence queries and advice to academies involving private matrimonial disputes;
- Advice on pupil records and academy reports content, including access, disclosure and inspection rights;
- Advice about trespassers, nuisance or disturbance on academy premises and violent and/or aggressive parents;
- Advice, assistance and representation in Court on injunctions;
- Advice on legal issues affecting pupils with special educational needs;
- Advice on pupil welfare and child protection;
- Advice on organising and any matters arising from academy trips;
- Advice on matters of pupil discipline and exclusions, including the grounds for exclusion, length of exclusion, decision letter and governor appeals;
- Advice on law relating to governing bodies and their procedures, their composition and appointment / election of individuals;
- Advice regarding parents' meetings and academy events;
- Advice on debt recovery;
- Advice on claims against the school;
- Notification of legislative changes as appropriate and regular news bulletins;
- Advice on academy admissions.
Prices
The charge for the service will depend on the complexity of the work, in terms of the level of expertise required to do the work. Please contact us for details.
Legal services is charged on a time taken basis, based on the hourly rate of the member of staff doing the work. There is no typical average charge for a academy, as each academy has a different need for legal support.
Services and pricing for maintained schools
Services
We can provide the following services, tailored to your school, but the list is not exhaustive:
- Expert advice on education law;
- Expert advice and assistance relating to Data protection and Freedom of information;
- Expert advice on employment law;
- Clerking school admission appeals;
- Drafting tailor made school policies and procedures;
- Advice on infant class sizes;
- Licensing and copyright in schools;
- Land, property, planning and rights of way advice;
- Advice on all contractual matters, terms and conditions, European commission (EC) regulations and school standing orders;
- Advice on tender procedures;
- Advice concerning parental rights and responsibilities, contact / residence queries and advice to schools involving private matrimonial disputes;
- Advice on pupil records and school reports content, including access, disclosure and inspection rights;
- Advice regarding trespassers, nuisance or disturbance on school premises and violent and / or aggressive parents;
- Advice, assistance and representation in Court on injunctions;
- Advice on legal issues affecting pupils with special educational needs;
- Advice on pupil welfare and child protection;
- Advice on organising and any matter arising from school trips;
- Advice on matters of pupil discipline and exclusions, including the grounds for exclusion, length of exclusion, decision letter and governor appeals;
- Advice on law relating to governing bodies and their procedures, their composition and the appointment / election of individuals;
- Advice regarding parents' meetings and school events;
- Advice on debt recovery;
- Advice on claims against the school;
- Notification of legislative changes as appropriate and regular news bulletins;
- Advice on school admission.
Prices
The charge for the service will depend upon the complexity of the work, based on the level of expertise required to do the work. Please contact us for details.
Legal services is charged on a time taken basis, which is based on the hourly rate of the member of staff doing the work. There is no typical average charge for a school, as each school has a different need for legal support.
Please note:
Where the school property is owned by the Council and legal work is carried out by its instructions. This will normally be paid for by the Council. This includes advice and property / land related work. Work will be charged if the property belongs to the school. Occasionally, schools may seek advice for their own purposes, which may be charged.
Work in respect of Employment tribunal cases is dealt with on behalf of the Council. In community and voluntary controlled schools, the Council is the respondent in these cases. The school will be involved in the case, but instructions will be taken from the Council. Other employment work in these schools will be recharged. All employment work in foundation, voluntary aided and academies remains the responsibility of the school and will be charged.
The service user will provide a named person who will be the primary contact for Employment tribunal cases. This person will need to be available to give instructions to the service provider at all times including school holidays.
Data protection
Schools need to be aware of this when they collect and process personal data about pupils and other individuals. For advice and guidance around data protection issues, visit: Information and resources (login required).
Freedom of Information (FOI)
The 2000 Act gives access to all non personal information held by the public sector, unless covered by an exemption. This includes schools. We have put together some advice and guidance, visit: Information and resources (login required).
Contacts
Ian Hughes (Head of Legal Services and Democratic Services, Chief Executive's Office):
- Email: ian.hughes@calderdale.gov.uk.
- Phone: 01422 393063.
Legal services (Chief Executive's Office):
- Email: legal.services@calderdale.gov.uk.
- Phone: 01422 393175 for Jeanette Burnside, Legal Practice Support Assistant.
- Phone: 01422 393977 for Petra Watson, Legal Practice Officer.