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Consulting staff: guidance

Find out how to 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 16 June 2025
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 13543
Contents
  1. You must consult on certain changes
  2. Plan your consultation method
  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 is when you ask for, consider and listen to employees' views before making a decision.

You must do this about issues involving:

  • Potential redundancies of 20 or more employees (called a 'collective consultation') – it's good practice to consult staff on any potential redundancies 
  • Health and safety matters
  • Employment contract changes
  • A business transfer / TUPE

If you have more than 50 employees in your school/trust, you might 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. 

Read our advice on consulting staff on restructures and voluntary redundancy. 

You may have an agreement to consult on other issues

This is known as an 'ICE agreement',