A Practical Guide to the Independent School Standard: September 2024 Edition

While the state has extensive powers and duties in relation to state-funded education, independent schools largely sit outside that regime on condition that they meet prescribed standards. 'A Practical Guide to the Independent School Standards' introduces the standards, explains their role in connection with registration and inspection of independent schools and shows how to use them. Busy practitioners are signposted to the key guidance and regulations incorporated into the deceptively short standards.

After outlining the standards and linking to relevant legislation and recent case law which helps with interpretation, this book shows how the standards can be applied to common issues affecting pupils such as SEND, mental health, peer-on-peer abuse, admissions and exclusions.

The closing chapters consider the role of the standards when things go wrong whether it is a parent wishing to complain about a school, a school questioning the findings of a compliance inspection and/or responding to action by the regulator.

Now, thoroughly updated for September 2024, this Practical Guide covers the changes to statutory guidance for 2024, such as Working Together to Improve School Attendance, the Prevent Duty, and new advice on Information Sharing.

Sarah McKimm is a lawyer who, after a first career in commercial litigation, has been specialising in education law and children's rights for over 20 years. With her particular expertise in independent education, safeguarding and SEND, she was Deputy General Secretary for the Independent Schools Council and Head of Legal & Policy for the Independent Schools Inspectorate. She participated as a legal representative in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. Sarah is an experienced governor in state, independent and hospital education.