June 2026 edition

Hello and welcome to our latest education bulletin.

As the academic year draws to a close, it’s important to pause, reflect on what’s been achieved (and what’s been challenging), and start looking ahead to what’s next.

Smita Jamdar

Partner and Head of Education

In this edition, we explore some of the key conversations influencing the sector right now – from the growing impact of online misinformation and the role of education in responding, to the ongoing debate about how best to support students while preparing them for life beyond study. This edition also marks the launch of our new Extenuating Circumstances podcast, where Paul Greatrix speaks with senior sector figures about the legal and regulatory issues shaping higher education today.

We’ve also included practical insights and tools to support your institution, including ways to extend your in‑house legal capability, and how to ensure your website meets evolving regulatory expectations.

Alongside this, we highlight a number of current consultations – including proposed changes to the student complaints scheme, a new OfS condition (C6), and the Department for Education’s consultation on OfS fees – all of which present a valuable opportunity for institutions to share their views at a time of ongoing regulatory change.

As always, we hope this gives you a helpful snapshot of what’s going on in the sector, and a few things to think about as you prepare for the academic year ahead.

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Tackling online misinformation: a growing priority for education

Smita recently attended the latest meeting of the Commission into Countering Online Conspiracies in Schools, where discussions reinforced just how rapidly online misinformation is reshaping society – and the urgent need for education to respond.

The session brought together policymakers, educators and researchers to review progress on media literacy, teacher training and ongoing research into how misinformation affects young people and families.

What stood out most was the shared recognition that this is not a challenge for schools alone, but one that requires coordinated, long‑term action across education and wider society.

Reflecting on the discussions, Smita was particularly struck by insights from the report on a visit to Estonia, where tackling misinformation is treated as a matter of national resilience. The Estonian approach is rooted in the understanding that social cohesion does not happen by accident – it requires deliberate policy and sustained effort.

While that model may not translate directly to the UK, the underlying message is clear. As the risks associated with misinformation grow, thoughtful, joined‑up action will be essential in supporting institutions, educators and students alike.

Are universities supporting students too much, or not enough?

We were pleased to contribute to the latest Keele Debate, which explores a question many institutions are currently grappling with: as the range of student support continues to grow, are universities striking the right balance between enabling success and fostering independence?

The discussion brought together a range of sector voices, including Sir Michael Barber, Jenny Shaw, Jim Dickinson, student representatives from KeeleSU, and our own Paul Greatrix.

Chaired by Professor Kevin Shakesheff, Vice-Chancellor of Keele University, the debate examined whether increased intervention risks leaving students less prepared for life beyond university – or whether the sector still has more to do to meet evolving student needs.

Watch the full debate

Have your say: current sector consultations

With several key consultations now live, this is a valuable opportunity to share your institution’s perspective and help shape decisions that will directly impact the sector.

Click the links below for more information.

New Office for Students Consultation: Condition C6: “Treating Students Fairly” (deadline 9 July 2026)

Department for Education Consultation: Fees Charged by the Office for Students (deadline 21 July 2026)

Changes to the Student Complaints Scheme for Higher Education - Consultation (deadline 31 July 2026)

Catch-up on our latest webinar

Treating Students Fairly – What to look out for in the OfS consultation on new Condition C6

The OfS is consulting on a new condition of registration requiring registered providers to treat students fairly. This represents a more muscular regulatory intervention than the existing conditions on consumer protection and student protection, which it will replace. There is a lot for institutions to think about and considerable regulatory risk if the draft condition is adopted as set out in the consultation.

In this webinar, Smita Jamdar will highlight the key issues, suggest points institutions may want to raise in their own responses, and recommend actions to ensure compliance if the condition proceeds as planned.

Watch webinar

Extending your in-house legal capability

We know how varied – and often stretched – in-house legal roles can be across the education sector. From governance and regulation through to safeguarding, student matters and strategic projects, the demands can be wide‑ranging. Our Education In-House Assist service is designed to provide flexible, on‑hand support when you need additional capacity or access to specialist expertise.

It works as a subscription, giving you a dedicated point of contact who gets to know your institution and acts as an extension of your team – helping to coordinate advice across different areas as issues arise. It’s a practical way to access wider expertise and additional support, without needing to bring in permanent resource.

Find out more

Is your website putting your institution at risk?

With increasing scrutiny on the OfS publication requirements, transparency, data protection, and digital accessibility, education institutions are facing growing pressure to ensure their websites meet both legal requirements and user expectations. What may seem like a routine website can quickly become a source of compliance risk if key standards aren’t being met.

We’ve developed SiteComply, a simple website health check, to help you spot any gaps and understand where you might need to make updates.

It looks at key areas such as:

OfS regulatory requirements
Consumer protection requirements
Information disclosure obligations
Data protection compliance
Digital accessibility standards

You’ll get a clear overview of how things stand, along with practical suggestions to ensure your website is compliant with the relevant laws and standards in the UK.

Whether you’re doing a first review, or just sense-checking things are still on track, it’s a useful way to keep up with evolving requirements.

To discuss how this might be useful for your institution, contact Selina Hinchliffe.

Planning and estate strategy for education

As pressures on estates, infrastructure and campus strategy continue to grow, taking a joined‑up, long‑term approach to development has never been more important.

Working alongside our planning and design consultancy Marrons, we support education institutions with everything from early‑stage strategy through to delivery – helping to unlock value from land and assets, shape campuses and plan for future growth.

Find out more

Extenuating Circumstances Podcast

Extenuating Circumstances is a legal higher education podcast by Paul Greatrix, director of higher education consultancy at Shakespeare Martineau. Every aspect of higher education is affected, or at the very least touched by, the law. In this podcast Paul is in conversation with senior figures from across the sector to explore some of the bigger legal and regulatory issues in higher education, the ways in which they as leaders are responding to them, and how these are playing out in practice.

Listen now to Episode 1: Free Speech North and South of the Border.

Listen now

Our latest education thoughts and insights

Codifying Governance – The New CUC Code of Higher Education Governance

PPP/PFI Expiry – The Quiet Estates Issue About To Get Very Loud

Housekeeping and Higher Education Regulation - written for HEPI

Other thoughts and insights

Employee Use of AI in HR Processes: Legal Risks for Employers and How to Respond

Employment Rights Act 2025 – Where Are We Now and What Employers Should Expect Next

Events and webinars

Book now

Employment Law Update: Key Changes for Employers in 2026

The UK employment landscape is undergoing one of its most significant periods of change in decades. With the phased implementation of the landmark Employment Rights Act 2025 now underway, ensuring your HR practices remain compliant and up to date has never been more important.

Join our upcoming Employment Law Update, designed specifically for HR professionals and business leaders seeking practical guidance on navigating these developments with confidence.

Webinar | 9:30am - 10:15am

Book now

Navigating the Building Safety Act: Challenges and Solutions for the Supply Chain

The Building Safety Act (“BSA”) has fundamentally reshaped responsibility, accountability and risk across the construction and real estate supply chain. At the same time, challenging insurance market conditions are creating increased pressure on how projects are structured, insured and delivered.

We are delighted to be partnering with Willis Towers Watson to bring together leading legal, construction and insurance experts for our panel discussion. Together we will explore how the supply chain can respond to the evolving regulatory and insurance landscape created by the BSA. Join the panel as they share their insights, experiences and best practices across a range of BSA-related topics

Panel discussion | 4:30pm - 8:00pm

As always, we encourage you to engage with us through feedback, suggestions, and discussions. Please get in touch with any queries regarding the subjects discussed in this edition or any topics you would like to see in the future.

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