Education Services

“We help proposers, sponsors and governing bodies create Free Schools and Academies and, through the provision of business and educational support where needed, work with you in your aim to provide educational excellence”.

Education in the UK is constantly evolving. At BDO we have a dedicated national team of experts who are able to support providers of education to adapt and thrive in the changing environments in which they operate. Our sector specialists provide business, finance, educational and project management support to operators in the Schools, , Further Education and Higher Education sectors. We work closely with key sector bodies including the Department for Education (DfE), the Skills Funding Agency, the Education Funding Agency, the Association of Colleges and the College Finance Directors Group.

Academies

As the highest-scoring firm on the DfE’s Academies Framework, we have a proven track record of supporting sponsors, schools and Free School groups in successfully developing all forms of academies including:

• Sponsored academies
• Converter schools
• Free Schools
• University Technical Colleges (UTCs) 
• Special Schools and, 
• Studio Schools.

To date we have helped successfully implement over 100 academies, across a range of scenarios: from supporting existing schools in their conversion process to developing completely new Free Schools and UTCs in new buildings. We have provided support across primary and secondary sectors, including all-through academies, and have worked with faith schools, independent schools and academies with multiple sponsors.

BDO’s unique blend of project management, business and educational expertise ensures that we adopt a professional approach to establishing sustainable academies with effective governance and robust finance functions.

As a national firm with 20 offices across the UK, we offer development and on-going business support through locally based business and educational advisory, accounting, audit and tax services.

We understand that every academy is unique and consequently provide a bespoke service that recognises the challenges and addresses the individual needs of head teachers, governors, parents, local authorities, business managers and sponsors. As a result we deliver academies whose impact and benefits are far-reaching and sustainable.

Further and higher education

The recent changes in government policy have resulted in many opportunities and freedoms leaving providers with the challenge of having to think more commercially whilst at the same time take on more responsibility through self-regulation and delivering more for less.

At BDO, we have a dedicated team of professionals with experience of working with training providers, universities, further education and sixth form colleges providing business advice through a wide range of effective services including strategic planning, risk management, forensic, internal audit, external audit, tax and VAT as well as pensions and employment taxes.