Education

We believe in education as a force for good in society.

Education is vital for everyone; it’s a force for social change. That’s why we work with you in partnership, investing in your values and moral purpose – the reason you educate. We aim to make a positive impact in society and we’re as immersed in the policy context as we are in the law.

We rank in the Legal 500’s top tier for schools, and we have more than 30 years’ experience in education.  We work with nurseries, schools and multi-academy trusts, as well as institutions in further, higher and adult education. Beyond that, we’ve worked with regulators, local authorities and awarding bodies.

How we help

We’re a full-service firm, so we can offer every legal service you could need. We can help establish, merge, federate, transfer, restructure or convert an institution. We help with governance and constitutions.

We deal with everything from inspections, disciplinary procedures to FOI requests. We’ll also protect your intellectual property as well as dealing with visas and immigration. We help prevent and resolve disputes, from governance and other organisational issues with shareholders, to disputes with suppliers and other third parties.

 

 

We also have the specialist expertise to help you thrive in the fast-growing EdTech sector. We’ve advised EdTech clients on everything from commercial contracts to intellectual property.

Whatever you need, we’ll be there to support and advise you.

Recent work examples include:

  • Advising a well-established French higher education group on entering the UK market and registering with the Office for Students.
  • Providing restructuring advice to an independent schools group.
  • Advising a large further education provider, which is also a registered charity, on its governance review and on the impact of ONS reclassification of statutory further education colleges into the public sector.
Explore

Briefing for Charities & Social Enterprises | 3 June

Our weekly roundup of news and updates from across the sector. To help you navigate this week’s content, the links below will take you straight to content by topic. Charity Commission The Charity Commission has published a blog and guidance promoting the role of charity trustee. Return to top. Sector general The government has published new research mapping …
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Briefing for Charities & Social Enterprises | 19 May

Our weekly roundup of news and updates from across the sector. To help you navigate this week’s content, the links below will take you straight to content by topic. Charity Commission Updated CC28 Guidance The Charity Commission says it has updated its guidance Sales, leases, transfers or mortgages: what trustees need to know about disposing …
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Briefing for Charities & Social Enterprises | 12 May

Our weekly round up of news and updates from across the sector. To help you navigate this week’s content, the links below will take you straight to content by topic. Charity Commission New Chair Dame Julia Unwin Dame Julia Unwin gave her first speech as Chair of the Charity Commission at Civil Society Media’s Trustee …
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Department for Education consultation on statutory guidance for ‘gender questioning’ children: call for responses

The Department for Education (DfE) has opened its annual consultation on updates to its “Keeping children safe in education” (KCSIE) statutory guidance, which will include a new section on ‘gender questioning’ children. Schools and colleges, teachers and leaders, parents and young people, charities and support groups, will have valuable experience and views, which may be …
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EHRC announces regulatory action in respect of policies which allow access to single sex spaces and services based on gender self identification

On 27 August 2025, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (“EHRC”) announced that it has completed its review of evidence obtained from the Government’s 2024 call for input on organisations’ approaches to single sex spaces and services, and that it will be taking regulatory action where organisations’ policies on this issue misrepresent equality law. Specifically, …
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“We work with a range of solicitors at Bates Wells and all of them are knowledgeable and work together as a team to provide specific, tailored advice.”

Education, Chambers 2024

‘The Team immediately understood the organisation and brief, even before we met for the first time. Different members of the team were able to assist with different aspects of our requirement, and it felt like each individual was very knowledgeable on our organisation.’

Education, Legal 500 2024
Meet our team