6. Jamie Hobday and Robin Rajanah of solicitors VWVV
For this episode Tim Warneford travels to Bristol, to speak to one of the most successful academy sector firms of solicitors, VWV and to Jaime Hobday and Robin Rajanah about their experience in supporting academies and also their vision for the future of the sector.
On this episode we cover:
How they both became involved in education
The strengths and weaknesses of LEA schools versus academy schools
Academies having to learn on the job and quite quickly
Managing one school being very different to multiple
Academy staff becoming more savvy
Universities starting from a higher and more significant estate portfolio
Being politically easier to dispose of land in higher or further education than for schools and academies
The continually frustration of academy with having to apply for consent to dispose of land
Successes over the last ten years
The early converters being in the dark about how to convert
Academies working for schools that need improvement
Schools in academies awareness of property issues and opportunities growing
Skills within these schools grown significantly
Where education has been successfully cascaded down in academies
Hosting events to create opportunities to get people to talk about their experiences
Often inking clients and contacts together at the firm
Being a good amount of humility in the sector with learning new skills
Close to 80% of secondary schools having transferred to academies
Researching schools to assess their needs
How regional school commissioners prefer schools to be in larger MATs – four schools upwards – particularly with primaries
Inconsistency across LEAs about the conversion process
The challenges and benefits of land disposal
Secondary schools in Bedfordshire selling off farms
Advising schools to talk to the EFSA as soon as they can
Land disposal helping with the housing shortage
Frustrations about the speed at which re-brokerages and sponsored conversions have to be completed
Lack of time meaning less time for due diligence
Assessing the finances and deficit position key to first step
How schools need to be educated in what the risks and liabilities look like
Conferences being a good way of doing this
Regular communication with other organisations – such as Lloyds – helping with sector knowledge
A large part of their service being about doing the things needed before they need them
The DFE using conversion to formalise processes
Holding a kick off meeting with new conversion clients
Making legal concepts easier to understand
Poor condition surveys
Jaime’s passion for governance, finding out their ethos and helping them really understand their vision
Robin’s wish to help academy trusts make the most of their estate
The more fit for purpose the estate and facilities, the better the opportunities for the children
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