Welcome to Geldards Education
We provide specialist legal and HR advice grounded in a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing education providers.
We are thought leaders in the sector, who build long‑term relationships with schools, academy trusts, colleges, universities and early years providers, acting as trusted advisors delivering clear, pragmatic and sector driven advice whenever it is needed.
Geldards dedicated legal and HR advice service for the education sector.
Our specialist education sector solicitors work with schools, academy trusts, colleges, universities, independent schools and other education providers across England and Wales. We understand the pressures education leaders face and provide advice that is clear, practical and grounded in your objectives. From day-to-day operational issues to complex disputes, regulatory matters and major strategic projects, our team brings together legal and HR expertise from across Geldards to support every aspect of your organisation. We work closely with you to understand your priorities, manage risk and help you make confident decisions. Whether you need one-off advice or ongoing support through one of our legal and HR retainers, you will have access to lawyers who know the education sector.
Education institution type
Early Years
Practical legal support for nurseries, pre-schools and childcare providers, covering Ofsted, safeguarding, staffing, parent issues, premises and regulatory compliance.
Maintained Schools
Dedicated legal support for maintained schools, covering governance, safeguarding, pupil issues, staffing, statutory duties, policy compliance and local authority arrangements.
Multi-Academy Trusts & Academies
Comprehensive legal support for academies and multi academy trusts, covering governance, conversions, safeguarding, staffing, property, compliance and strategic projects.
Independent Schools
Specialist legal support for independent schools, covering inspections, safeguarding, governance, staffing, pupil and parent issues, property and regulatory compliance.
Further Education
Sector-focused legal support for colleges, sixth form institutions and training providers, covering governance, funding, staffing, learners, estates, partnerships and compliance.
Higher Education
Geldards Education provides practical legal advice to universities, colleges and specialist higher education providers. Our higher education solicitors support institutions…
Education transactions
Our experience dealing with projects and transactions within the education sector.
Independent school groups
Geldards delivers legal support for independent school groups, private schools and providers operating across an independent school network.
Our products
Our Education retainer products provide flexible, ongoing legal and HR support for schools, trusts, colleges and other education organisations.
Latest insights
Admission Appeals: Lessons from the 2025 – 2026 DfE Complaints Review
The Department for Education has released its annual review of complaints relating to academy admission appeals for the 2025 – 2026 academic year. The…
NPQ review: what school and trust leaders should do before the frameworks change
The Department for Education published its response to the latest call for insights and evidence on National Professional Qualifications on 22 September 2026. The…
Enrichment funding: what school and trust leaders should do next
The government has announced £22.5 million of support for more than 400 secondary schools in disadvantaged communities through the Enrichment Expansion programme. The funding…
Buying supply staff: what academy trusts need to check before their next booking
The DfE’s supply staff mandate requires academy trusts in England to look more closely at how they buy agency cover. The immediate task is…
Vocational GCSEs: what schools should prepare for now and what can wait
On 23 September 2026 the government announced a new family of Vocational GCSEs for pupils aged 14 to 16 in England. They are intended…
Post-16 funding assurance: turn the DfE’s findings into a control plan
The Department for Education (DfE) has published its latest account of the recurring errors found when it audits post-16 funding. The report is relevant…
View all insights