Governing Bodies and School Policies

It can be quite confusing trying to figure out just what policies are required for individual schools. Different categories of schools are required to have slightly different policies in place. The list of required policies at the DfE website also includes documents which aren't part of the remit for governing bodies. Some policies are recommended, but not a statutory requirement.

Your first stop when looking at your school policies should be your LA Governor Services team.

With recent budget cuts not every local authority has a dedicated governor services team, in which case links are provided below to other LAs which have a provided online resources for governors.

Below is a list of all the school policies and documents for which the governing body is responsible. These policies should be reviewed and approved by the governing body on a regular basis, yearly or otherwise. While policies can be reviewed at a committee level, or even by individuals they must be approved by the full governing body. That approval should be recorded in the minutes.

Statutory Policies

• Accessibility plan (all schools)


• Admissions policy (aided schools and foundation schools; also community and controlled schools if the local authority [LA] formally transfers the responsibility to them)


• Charging and remissions policy (all schools)


• Child protection/Safeguarding policy (all schools)


• Collective worship policy (all schools except maintained nursery schools)


• Complaints procedure (all schools)


• Curriculum policy (all schools)


• Equality policy, including disability and gender (all schools)


• Early Years Foundation Stage (all schools)


• Exclusion of pupils (all schools)


• Freedom of information publication scheme (all schools)


• Health and safety policy, including Risk Assessment (all schools)


• Instrument of government (all schools)


• Minutes of, and papers considered at, meetings of the governing body and its committees (all schools)


• Performance management policy (all schools)


• Prospectus (all schools except maintained nursery schools)


• School companies (all schools where a company is established)


• School discipline and pupil behaviour policies (all schools)


• Sex education policy (all schools except maintained nursery schools)


• Special educational needs policy (all schools)


• Staff discipline conduct and grievance (procedures for addressing) (all schools)


• Target setting for schools (all schools except maintained nursery schools)


• Teachers' pay policy (all schools)

Recommended policies:

• Community cohesion


• Recruitment and selection


• Whistleblowing


• Governors' Allowance


• Internet and computer/E-safety

Policies:
A guide for school governors and headteachers

'thoroughly researched and does much of the hard work ready for the policy writing. I can see the book becoming essential reading among governors and heads.' ~Governors' News

The School Governors' Yearbook 2012

Available 19 September 2011
"This book should be recommended to all new governors as an excellent introduction to their important role, and to current governors as essential reading"
~Matters Arising on the previous edition (official magazine for the National Governors' Association)

"an absolutely brilliant book"
~ governor in London