United Kingdom: Education

Higher education institutions are under increasing financial pressure, making effective credit control more critical than ever. This article examines the strategic importance of debt recovery in universities and colleges, exploring the balance between robust financial processes and the unique challenges of managing student debt alongside commercial obligations. Discover practical strategies for strengthening cash flow, improving collection rates, and building financially resilient institutions.

Food allergy deaths remain preventable tragedies despite recent legal reforms in the UK. This analysis examines three critical pieces of legislation—Benedict's Law, Natasha's Law, and the proposed Owen's Law—revealing how each addresses specific gaps in allergy safety across schools, retail, and hospitality sectors, while highlighting the fragmented protections that still leave vulnerable individuals at risk depending on where and how food is served.

MI5 has issued an urgent alert identifying over 100 UK academics who unknowingly contributed to Chinese state security research through the China General Technology Research Institute. Universities now face potential criminal liability under the National Security Act 2023 and export control regulations if they fail to conduct proper due diligence on research collaborations. In-house legal teams must immediately review existing partnerships and implement robust screening systems to identify high-risk foreign

The Office of the Independent Adjudicator has published new guidance for universities and colleges on handling reports of harassment and sexual misconduct. This framework sets out core principles and operational good practice for institutions in England and Wales, providing detailed guidance on everything from initial disclosures through to disciplinary processes and appeals.

As universities begin a new academic year, governing bodies face critical questions about whether their governance structures are keeping pace with today's rapidly changing higher education landscape. This article explores the strategic challenges facing university governors, from international student recruitment and partnerships to balancing constructive oversight with executive autonomy in an increasingly complex regulatory and political environment.

School trust leaders are being asked to think beyond their own organisations and lead across place through alliances and shared capacity. This shift demands a fundamental change in leadership identity—moving away from the heroic individual leader model toward collaborative, place-based civic leadership that prioritizes collective outcomes over institutional boundaries.

A law student shares their firsthand experience during a week-long work placement at BTO Solicitors' Helensburgh office, detailing their involvement in drafting legal documents...

The Court of Appeal has delivered a significant ruling emphasising that local authorities must consult vulnerable service users before closing facilities central to their daily lives. In BUJ v London Borough of Bromley, the court quashed a council's decision to close an adult education centre, finding that affected learners with disabilities had a legitimate expectation of consultation. What does this mean for public bodies planning service changes or property disposals?

The Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Tribunal has announced a significant operational reform launching on 17 August 2026. Known as the “One Touch” Case Management Pilot, this trial alters the appeal procedure exclusively for standalone Section I appeals – those that only challenge the school or placement named in an Educational, Health and Care Plan.