HR Support

We provide a range of bespoke HR support services to schools and academies, sponsors and local authorities ranging from setting up a new school to specific advice on individual staff issues. Our services can be used in a "stand alone" way or complement and support provision from your existing HR provider.

We also run training courses for senior and middle leaders in schools on educational HR issues:

Employment law in practice in schools, 1-day Course

This course has been specifically designed for headteachers and other senior leaders in schools, including governors, who are involved in managing complex and contentious staffing issues such as organisational change, disciplinary matters and underperforming staff. 

This is an intensive 1-day course and although there is no pre-course work participants are recommended to familiarise themselves with their relevant HR procedures in advance.

By attending, delegates will:

• Gain an overview of key areas of employment legislation
• Have the tools to more confidently manage difficult staffing issues within their schools
• Be better able to minimise the risks to their school, including those associated with organisational change.

Course Outline

• Discrimination in employment
• Overview of discrimination legislation, including latest & impending developments
• Managing misconduct
• Law relating to dismissal
• Best disciplinary practices, including ACAS guidance
• Avoiding successful unfair dismissal claims
• Special considerations: child protection allegations; bullying & harassment
• Managing capability issues
• Identifying and managing under-performance
• Managing sickness absences, including disability-related absences
• Managing stress within the workplace
• Handling redundancies & organisational change
• Ensuring fair process

Investigation Training, 1-day Course

This course is suitable for both experienced and inexperienced investigators and has been specifically designed for those in schools who are required to undertake investigations under their disciplinary, grievance and discrimination/harassment procedures.  However, the principles learnt on this course may be equally applied to other types of investigation.  

It is designed to prepare participants fully for conducting a thorough and professional investigation, including writing up their evidence/conclusions in a professional report, and presenting their findings to a formal hearing. This 1-day interactive training course is designed fully to equip senior leaders and managers to conduct management investigations.  Whilst the principles learnt on the course may be applied to different types of investigations, the course specifically focuses on investigations in relation to disciplinary, grievance and discrimination/bullying & harassment matters. 

By attending, delegates will:

• Know what is required of them as an investigating officer, including how to scope and plan the investigation process
• Be able to undertake a thorough and professional management investigation  
• Gain a better understanding of how to avoid some of the common ‘pitfalls’ of conducting management investigations; and how to respond to some of the common difficulties that may arise.

This is an intensive 1-day course and although there is no pre-course work participants are recommended to familiarise themselves with their relevant HR procedures, including disciplinary and grievance procedures, in advance.

Course Outline

The following areas are covered:

• Broad overview of relevant employment legislation, including equalities legislation and the law relating to bullying & harassment and unfair dismissal
• How to conduct an investigation, including scoping and planning for the investigation
• Writing up your findings (investigation report)
• Preparing to present your findings to a hearing
• Practical activities, including lots of case studies