Compliance

New guidance from the government says schools should add extreme heat to their emergency planning documents – but without clear guidance on what constitutes extreme heat, schools will need to think ahead, explains this lawyer

Efforts to provide ethical guidance for leaders were under way prior to the pandemic but have since fallen by the wayside – and that’s not good for a sector where accountability and ethics rarely sit easily together, says a former MAT chief executive

The law around disability discrimination against pupils is not straightforward – but the reputational risk, let alone costs, of falling foul of the law are huge, so it’s worth upskilling staff whenever possible, as these two lawyers outline

The Department for Education has updated its guidance for what schools have to publish online – here are the details you need to know

Designated safeguarding leads may find it hard to switch off over the holidays. Thomas Michael outlines what your responsibilities are and how to ensure you can still switch off

For too long, parents’ unfounded accusations against teachers have been shrugged off. But if the sector – and the government – are serious about staff wellbeing, more robust processes are needed, says this MAT leader

As school life returns to normal, governors – new and old – should embark on learning walks to reconnect with the schools they serve, and potentially have the chance to board a pirate ship as well, says Dr Elizabeth Malone

Risky online behaviours have become a key concern for schools following the pandemic after young people were online more than ever. This school shares its approach to tackling the issue head-on

Would you know what to do in the event of a gas leak, extreme weather event or major police incident? It’s not pleasant to think about, but preparing for the worst can help you to ensure that the risk to all in schools is minimised

The National Governance Association explains that it has updated its self-evaluation questions for schools, MATs and academy committees to help them critique their own work and ensure they are delivering on their aims

Challenging an Ofsted outcome is not for the faint-hearted – but it can be done if you feel the inspection was unfair. A lawyer well-versed in this area offers advice for any school that may consider this option

An education law firm offers a timely breakdown of the law on confiscation in response to a rise in requests from schools in this tricky area