Independent (private) schools


We advise domestic and international independent (private) schools and school groups on both everyday issues, such as safeguarding and staff concerns, and major projects including financings, M&A and international collaboration.

We've worked in the education sector for almost 140 years. Our full-service independent (private) schools team combines this wealth of experience with our commercial outlook and passion to advise our clients on:

  • Education law
  • Banking and project finance
  • Charity law and donation agreements
  • Employment law
  • Governance and corporate structuring
  • Immigration
  • International collaborations
  • Investments
  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Pensions 
  • Regulatory law
  • School development

Our experience

As a brief showcase of our experience:

  • We've advised a number of schools – including Harrow, Wellington College and Stephen Perse Foundation – on a range of financing facilities, including development loans, public bonds and private placements.

  • We've advised a number of schools and groups (including Kings’ School, Ely and Cognita) on the establishment of overseas campuses, including in the UAE and China.

  • We advised the sellers of Knightsbridge School in relation to the school’s sale to the Dukes Education Group.

  • We advised a significant Chinese group in relation to its acquisition of a group of English schools.

  • We advise a number of schools – including Norwich School and King’s School, Ely, on a wide range of day to day legal matters, including governance and employment issues, and property acquisition.

  • We've advised a number of schools on the pensions and employment law implications of exiting the Teachers’ Pension Scheme including advising on collective consultation requirements.

  • We've advised a number of schools on potential challenges to OFSTED following unsatisfactory inspection experiences.

  • We acted on behalf of a school during the HSE prosecution following the death of a pupil on a school trip.

Our clients

Our independent (private) schools clients include: 

  • Norwich School
  • Leicester Grammar School Trust
  • Wellington College
  • Harrow School
  • St Dunstan’s
  • King’s School, Ely

Get in touch

Our team of legal experts are here to support you.
Contact one of our lawyers today.

Contact us

Our lawyers

Our team is passionate about the sector; many of our specialists have completed secondments with clients, are recognised as thought-leaders and act as governors on the boards of local schools.

Our expertise

Academies and schools
Apprenticeships
Education law
Further education and skills
Higher education and research
Independent (private) schools
International
University financial resilience taskforce

Meet our independent (private) schools lawyers

Related sectors & services

Academies and schools Charities and social enterprise Commercial Corporate law Education Employment - education Finance Immigration Regulatory