Handsam has highlighted some health and safety precautions that you should be taking to ensure that pupils, parents teachers and everyone else involved will have a safe experience. Sports day is always an exhilarating event - the competitive atmosphere and glorious weather are always a cause for excitement. However, boisterous behaviour and cheering crowds can sometimes lead to health and safety measures being forgotten. Although they are incredibly fun, sports days inevitabl

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has issued an updated Code of Practice clarifying how organizations must manage single-sex spaces under the Equality Act 2010. Approved by ministers and presented to Parliament, this statutory guidance follows a landmark Supreme Court ruling establishing that the definition of "sex" within the Equality Act is based strictly on biological sex. For leadership teams, governors, and safeguarding leads across UK schools, this guidanc

When the British weather occasionally decides to turn up the heat, classrooms can get incredibly stuffy. Because children’s bodies find it harder to regulate temperature than adults, young people are much more at risk of getting ill on scorching days. Luckily, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Department for Education have strict guidelines to make sure your school stays safe. Here is a breakdown of how schools handle hot weather, what the rules are, and the signs

Teaching a child to look both ways before crossing the road is a foundational rite of passage for every parent. Now, the UK’s data watchdog, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), is arguing that online privacy must be treated with the exact same level of urgency and regularity. A new campaign launched by the ICO - SWITCHED ON TO PRIVACY suggests that protecting personal data should no longer be a niche technical topic, but an essential life skill as "natural as teachin

In the education sector, compliance is not just about doing the right things—it’s about proving that you’re doing them. Schools and multi-academy trusts are expected to meet a wide range of regulatory requirements, but without clear, structured evidence, even the best practices can go unrecognised. This is where evidence becomes critical. The ability to demonstrate compliance with confidence is what separates a reactive approach from a truly effective, well-managed organisati

In today’s increasingly complex education landscape, compliance is no longer a back-office responsibility—it is a strategic priority. From safeguarding and health & safety to data protection and governance, schools and multi-academy trusts (MATs) must demonstrate robust systems and accountability at every level. At the heart of this responsibility sit governors and trustees, whose role in ensuring compliance is both critical and far-reaching. Why Compliance Matters at Board L

The Department for Education (DfE) has again refused to publish the full findings of a critical audit into its handling of pupil data, arguing that disclosure could “distract” from its plans to gather even more information on children through a proposed national pupil register. An audit carried out by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in 2020 found the DfE had breached several provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which governs how personal da

The Cyber Security Breaches Survey is a key research study supporting the UK’s cyber resilience and the goals of the National Cyber Strategy. Its findings help shape government policy on cyber security, with the aim of making the UK’s digital environment a safer place to do business. The survey examines how businesses, charities, and educational institutions manage cyber security — including their policies, processes, and overall approach. It also analyses the types of cyber

A new report from the cross-party Education Committee reveals that many school buildings in England remain in a fragile state. While significant progress has been made in removing Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) - the unsafe material that caused widespread closures in 2023—the broader school estate continues to deteriorate. The government has committed to ensuring all schools are either free of RAAC or undergoing a rebuild by 2029. The Government’s 10-Year Strat