Education Sector - Academy Conversions
Designed specifically to support schools and academies through the conversion process, our Education Team offers a co-ordinated solution using expertise from across our various legal teams.
A number of our specialists have spent many years working alongside leading universities, colleges and centres of technical and academic excellence, assisting their boards and departmental teams as trusted advisers and lawyers.
How do we help ?
With so many demands on your time, dealing with a conversion can be a daunting exercise.
At BHP Law, we understand the challenges schools are facing and our Education Team have already helped a number of primary & secondary schools convert successfully.
Our service is designed to help you navigate though the “legals” smoothly and we offer a full consultancy solution, working with our clients every step of the way, giving help and advice how it is needed, when needed.
Why Convert ?
As Academies are independent of Local Authority control, the Government has highlighted the greater freedom and flexibility Academies have to innovate and raise standards and this is borne out by what schools going through the process are saying.
Many Academies are already reporting that they value the control they have of local decision-making and the freedom to develop the curriculum in creative ways. They are also able to allocate resources more effectively, since they understand their students’ needs better than the Local Authority. The independence which comes with being an Academy also gives them the freedom to support other schools and the local community and at BHP Law. We can assist in developing partnership arrangements with other schools and setting up trading entities to provide services to other schools.
What’s involved ?
An Academy conversion involves translating the legal formalities and requirements of an Academy structure into what they mean specifically for governors and head teachers in their day to day roles. Members of our team have been school governors or have direct experience in education-related matters which enables them to provide a practical viewpoint. We see our role as giving first class, cost efficient and effective legal support service which helps to take advantage of the benefits converting to an Academy can bring.
Our clients.......... and what they say..........
Headteacher Nick Grieveson, King James I Academy
Converted 1st June 2011, Community Secondary School
“We have been delighted with the support which we have had from BHP throughout the Academy conversion process. Access to specialist support from a team of legal experts has helped us to address all contractual, employment and land issues in a timely and efficient manner. Our lead legal adviser, has proved to be both knowledgeable and influential in negotiating with a range of stakeholders, ironing out many of the problems we might have had to face had we not appointed such a “hands-on” firm. We feel that our decision to appoint a local firm has been vindicated by our experience and we look forward to calling upon BHP’s services, should the need arise, in the future.”
Headteacher Neil Parker, Heighington C of E Primary School and Bishopton and Redmarshall Primary School Federation
Converted 1st August 2011, Voluntary Controlled Church of England Primary School.
“It was absolutely essential for us to bring in professional advisors since converting was beyond the remit and the knowledge of our schools. What matters to us is retaining our village identities, being an important part of our communities and working closely together as two very fine schools.”
Headteacher Kathryn Bell, Great Smeaton Academy Primary School
Converted 1st September 2011, Community Primary School
“BHP were fantastic. When you’re up against a deadline and you need certain information or questions answering we knew there was always someone local at the end of the phone to help or to attend face to face meetings at the school. They have been more than legal advisors, they’ve also been a huge moral support and absolutely key in helping us achieve conversion on time.”