Given the changes to the use of confidentiality clauses under the DfE’s Academy Trust Handbook (the Handbook) trusts can be forgiven for overlooking a further small but relevant change.
The DfE has amended the Handbook to now require that trusts must obtain prior DfE approval before making a special staff severance payment where the outgoing member of staff earns over £174,000. This threshold has been increased from previous £150,000 and gives some much-needed flexibility to trusts when exiting senior employees.
This briefing is not intended to be an exhaustive statement of the law and should not be relied on as legal advice to be applied to any particular set of circumstances. Instead, it is intended to act as a brief introductory view of some of the legal considerations relevant to the subject in question.
For further advice on the Academy Trust Handbook or any other legal issue in schools, please contact Winckworth Sherwood’s dedicated Schools HR helpdesk on SchoolsHR@wslaw.co.uk or 0345 026 8690.