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Consulting staff: guidance

Find out how you should consult staff about proposed changes at your school. Download and use our model consultation letters to invite staff to express their views on issues such as staff restructures, and changes to holiday and pay arrangements.

Last reviewed on 3 June 2024
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 13543
Contents
  1. You must consult on certain changes
  2. Plan your method of consultation
  3. Give staff enough time to consider your proposals and respond
  4. Look out for staff wellbeing 
  5. Responding to feedback
  6. Consultation letters: templates

You must consult on certain changes

A consultation means that you seek, consider and listen to employees' views before making a decision. You must do this about issues involving:

  • Potential redundancies of 20 or more employees (this is called 'collective consultation') - it's good practice to consult staff on any potential redundancies 
  • Health and safety matters
  • Changes to employment contracts
  • A business transfer / TUPE

If you have more than 50 employees in your school or trust, you may also need to consult on any changes to your employee pension scheme.

This is set out on the government's website and in Acas' guidance about consulting employees. 

For more support on redundancies, see our advice on consulting staff on restructures and voluntary redundancy.

If there are 50 or more employees in your school or trust, they have the right to request a formal agreement to be informed