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Important changes to schools insurance from 1 April 2025.

The Department for Education (DfE) Risk Protection Arrangement (RPA) will provide risk cover for all LA maintained schools from 1 April 2025.

Derbyshire County Council will no longer provide insurance cover for schools for new claims after 31 March 2025. All schools have been enrolled as members of the DfE's Risk Protection Arrangement (RPA) with cover commencing from 1 April 2025.

Risk Protection Arrangement

The RPA is a membership-based risk protection arrangement organised by the DfE, which provides cover for risks as an alternative to commercially available insurance. The RPA provides cover for all school-related risks, except motor vehicles. The RPA does not offer an engineering plant and equipment statutory inspections service, which some commercial insurers provide.

All communications from the RPA will be sent to your school’s generic email address.

Motor insurance

Schools which buy motor insurance from Derbyshire County Council will need to arrange this cover separately when current cover expires on 31 March 2025. This applies to vehicles owned by the school or leased from a commercial provider which does not include insurance cover. Vehicles leased from the council do not require separate insurance which is included in the lease agreement.

Claims

All current claims and claims occurring up to 31 March 2025 will continue to be handled by the council.  All claims occurring from 1 April 2025 will be handled by the RPA. Please note that the applicable date refers to the date that the incident occurred, and not when reported, which could be later.

For further information and guidance documents, please see the Insurance and Risk on Services for Schools website.

Please email schools.insurance@derbyshire.gov.uk if your school needs further advice or guidance about these changes.

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