Education Partner – State Funded Schools Lead (Bristol)

Overview

As State Funded Schools Lead, you will steer the Bristol-based education practice in complex public law matters affecting academies and state schools. You will provide high-level guidance to MATs, SATs and maintained schools, lead a growing national team, and shape strategic responses to regulatory and risk-related challenges. You’ll work across regulatory, commercial and litigation functions to drive impactful outcomes for clients. This is a senior, visible leadership role at a top education practice with a collaborative culture and national reach.

Pay / Benefits

• hybrid working model
• 2-3 days per week in the Bristol office
• flexibility around working arrangements
• collaborative, non-hierarchical culture
• opportunities for visible leadership and strategic influence
• diversity and inclusive culture (as stated)

Responsibilities

• Lead the state funded schools (AMS) practice
• Advise MATs, SATs and state schools on public law matters
• Manage registration and inspection issues, admissions and appeals, governance and complaints
• Advise on SEND, discrimination, pupil discipline and safeguarding
• Oversee investigations, decision-making processes, civil claims and judicial reviews
• Support clients through critical incidents and risk management
• Collaborate with regulatory, commercial and litigation teams
• Provide visible leadership within a growing national practice

Key requirements

• Significant experience advising state funded schools, MATs and SATs
• Strong grounding in public law issues relevant to the education sector
• Expertise in registration and inspection; admissions and appeals; governance and complaints; SEND and discrimination; pupil discipline and safeguarding; investigations and judicial review; critical incident management
• Established sector reputation and professional network
• Excellent communication, leadership and relationship-building skills
• Experience managing complex matters and cross-team collaboration
• Following would be highly beneficial

• leadership
• communication
• relationship-building
• public law
• education sector governance
• matters relating to admissions and appeals

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