Andrea heads our Education team, which provides specialist support to schools, academies and other education organisations. The team have particular expertise advising foundation bodies and charities including Diocesan Boards of Education, Catholic Dioceses and broader education charities. Andrea advises on strategic projects, capital programmes including estate regeneration and PFI, school and public partnerships and a broad range of disputes, including governance challenges and reviews, malpractice, judicial review and regulatory investigations.

A market source says: “She’s really pragmatic, knows the law and takes a sensible approach to matters.” (Chambers 2020).

Recent Experience

• School relocation to green belt location in Hertfordshire
• West London estate redevelopment
• Investigation into exam malpractice and maladministration in a multi academy trust
• Strategic reorganisation of Diocesan Schools in a Diocese
• Responding to separate Judicial Review proceedings in connection with academy consultation and sixth form progression
• Advising on a number of School federations, MAT federations and LA/School Strategic Partnerships
• Governance Review for a multi academy trust
• Developing a bespoke scheme of delegation for an academy trust
• Advising on duties of Members and Trustees in connection with academy sponsorship and re-brokerage
• Advice on an Ofsted challenge and an ESFA investigation into senior executive pay
• Challenging industrial action by the NEU in 4 schools in the Diocese of Brentwood