Britain leaving the European Union, whenever it may be, may bring some risks for your school. Governors and senior leaders don’t need to take any action unless there is clear guidance released saying you should do so. Governors and senior leaders should be assessing whether Brexit will have any impact on the school, and what can be done to mitigate any potential risks. Adding this to the school or the trust’s risk register is a good way to keep on top of it.
EU nationals living in the UK before the UK leaves the EU will be able to continue their residency as they have it now. If the UK leaves the EU with no deal, EU nationals who want to live in the UK from 1 January 2021 will have to apply to the EU settlement scheme. The EU settlement scheme opened on 30 March 2019.
If your school has staff from an EU country:
- You are not required to ask current staff for proof of their resident permits.
- Your employees may ask you to provide documents to support their application for the EU settlement scheme. You should provide these on request.
- The government has released a toolkit for employers about the EU settlement scheme.
- New staff arriving from within the EU will have to apply temporary leave to remain.
- The Teaching Regulation Agency will no longer maintain details of those teachers who have been sanctioned in EEA member states. Statutory guidance will be released shortly detailing how to check professional competence from teachers who have lived or resided in the EEA after this happens.
If your school has children from an EU country:
- The same as above applies
- school admissions processes do not take into account either immigration status or nationality and so schools must not deny a child a place on the basis of their nationality or migration status
For further information read the DfE’s advice for schools in England on preparing for a no deal Brexit. Schools can also contact Juniper Education for Schools Education HR team.
In terms of other areas of risk, governors and senior leaders need to be thinking about:
- school trips to EU countries: new passport and insurance rules
- data protection legislation: does your school work with any partners that host or store information in the EU? You can read 6 steps on remaining compliant here.
