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Education Providers

We advise the education sector on procurement, governance, strategy, estate management and infrastructure projects. Our work includes major development and construction, the transfer of assets and real estate and the full range of commercial contracts relating to the operation of schools, colleges and universities.

We focus on schools construction and whole school infrastructure projects working on many school PFI projects, complex academy transfers, school expansion programmes and strategic projects focused on schools improvement and statutory duties. Our team members are used to dealing with project-specific issues that require a bespoke solution within the confines of a standard construction contract, for example where there are co-located facilities or where there are complex site issues.

We have experience in advising governing bodies who wish to change status, from community to foundation and acquire trusts, including in anticipation of sponsored academy conversion. We therefore have a full appreciation of the issues and concerns of governing bodies.

Key Contacts

Work highlights

  • Advising local authorities on school expansion programmes to meet statutory pupil place planning requirements.
  • Advising a London borough on the redevelopment of a community special school in relation to the change of use of adjoining land and implications arising from the construction contracts and associated delays.
  • Advising local authorities on the academy conversion of PFI schools needing improvement following Ofsted inspections including negotiating the Commercial Transfer, School and Principal Agreements, and the deeds of variation.
  • Advising local authorities on education-related schemes, including development of new school premises and existing facilities in relation to S106 agreements linked to new housing schemes and Council-led schools expansion programmes.
Oliver Slater and Beatrice Wood explain the latest developments in subsidy control litigation, including what to look out for in the latter half of 2026. There have been two notable developments in subsidy control litigation over the summer. First, in Weis v Greater Manchester Combined Authority, the Court of Appeal has handed down its first... Read more

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