DfE governance guides

Two new DfE governance guides replace the governance handbook

The Department for Education (DfE) has published 2 new governance guides, to replace the governance handbook:

• Maintained schools governance guide
• Academy trust governance guide

There are no new requirements for governors or trustees, so your board does not need to do anything right now, except to:

• make sure everyone on your board is aware of, and can access, the right guide for your school type
• remove any copies of, or reference to, the previous governance handbook in your board's files and documents including induction materials.

Statutory policies for schools and academy trusts

The list of statutory policies that schools and academies must have, has now been incorporated into the relevant governance guides. Non-statutory policies are not included.

Reminder - boards remain accountable for these documents, and the policies and procedures contained within them.