Governance year planner.

Statutory guidance · Responsible: Filtering and monitoring governor, IT lead. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

Watch the IT lead run a recognised test (such as the SWGfL test filtering site) on a pupil device and a staff device, in school and on the school network. Check harmful and illegal content is blocked, and that the block is logged.

Why it matters

Governors must make sure the school has appropriate filtering and that it works. Watching a live test is the simplest way to know, rather than taking it on trust.

Questions to ask

• Which devices and accounts did we test, and did they include a pupil login?
• What gets past the filter, such as AI image tools or new apps, and what is done about it?
• When did the filtering provider last change something, and who checked it afterwards?

Guidance

• DfE filtering and monitoring standards
• Keeping children safe in education (Part 2)

Statutory guidance · Responsible: Filtering and monitoring governor. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

Ask the DSL how alerts reach them, how quickly, and who covers when they are away. Look at two or three anonymised examples and what was done.

Why it matters

Monitoring only keeps pupils safe if someone sees the alerts and acts on them quickly.

Questions to ask

• How long does it take an alert to reach the DSL?
• Who sees alerts in the holidays or when the DSL is off?
• What did the last serious alert lead to?

Guidance

• DfE filtering and monitoring standards
• Keeping children safe in education (Part 2)

Statutory guidance · Responsible: Safeguarding governor. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

Pick five names (staff, a volunteer, a governor, someone recent). Check each has the DBS, barred list, right to work, references, identity and prohibition checks recorded, with dates.

Why it matters

The single central record shows every adult working with pupils has been checked. Gaps are among the most common safeguarding failings found at inspection.

Questions to ask

• Who was the most recent person to start, and were all checks done before they started?
• How are volunteers and contractors recorded?
• Are governors on the record with their DBS check?

Guidance

• Keeping children safe in education (Part 3)

Statutory guidance · Responsible: Governing board. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

The report gives numbers, not names: concerns logged, referrals, early help, children on plans, child-on-child incidents, online safety incidents, training done.

Why it matters

The board must make sure safeguarding is effective. A termly report lets governors see trends without seeing individual pupils.

Questions to ask

• What has changed since last term, and why?
• Which concerns took longest to act on?
• What is the DSL most worried about?

Guidance

• Keeping children safe in education (Part 2)

Statutory guidance · Responsible: Attendance governor. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

Look at attendance and persistent absence for disadvantaged pupils, pupils with SEND and each year group, compared with last year and national figures. Check children missing education are followed up.

Why it matters

Governing boards must regularly review attendance data and help the school focus on pupils who most need support.

Questions to ask

• Which groups have the lowest attendance, and what is being done?
• How many pupils are persistently absent, and is that falling?
• Have any pupils left the roll without a known destination?

Guidance

• Working together to improve school attendance

Statutory guidance · Responsible: Governing board. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

Numbers by pupil group, reasons, repeat suspensions, and any pupils who left for home education or another school mid-year.

Why it matters

Governors are expected to watch suspensions, exclusions and moves off roll, including to home education, so that no pupil is pushed out unfairly.

Questions to ask

• Are pupils with SEND or disadvantaged pupils over-represented?
• Why did each pupil who left mid-year leave?
• What support was in place before each suspension?

Guidance

• Suspension and permanent exclusion guidance

Good practice · Responsible: Governing board. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

Numbers and kinds of incidents, where and when they happen, and what was done. Look for patterns, such as one year group or one part of the day.

Why it matters

Trends in behaviour, bullying and prejudice tell the board whether the behaviour policy is working.

Questions to ask

• What kinds of bullying are most common?
• How do pupils say they feel about behaviour?
• What changed after the last spike?

Guidance

• Behaviour in schools guidance

The law · Responsible: Health and safety governor. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

A drill has happened this term, how long evacuation took, and anything that went wrong was fixed.

Why it matters

The school must be able to get everyone out safely. Drills each term, with times recorded, show it can.

Questions to ask

• How long did the last evacuation take?
• Was a drill held at a less usual time, such as lunchtime?
• How are pupils who need help to evacuate supported?

Guidance

• Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

The law · Responsible: Health and safety governor. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

The number and kinds of accidents, where they happen, and any reported under RIDDOR.

Why it matters

Accidents show where risks are not controlled, and some must be reported to the HSE under RIDDOR.

Questions to ask

• Where do most accidents happen?
• Was anything reportable under RIDDOR, and was it reported in time?
• What has been changed as a result?

Guidance

• RIDDOR 2013
• Health and safety advice for schools

Statutory guidance · Responsible: SEND governor. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

Individual healthcare plans have been reviewed, staff who need training have had it, and medicines, including any spare adrenaline auto-injectors, are in date and easy to reach.

Why it matters

Pupils with medical conditions and allergies need up-to-date plans that staff know, and medicines that are in date.

Questions to ask

• How many pupils have a healthcare plan, and when were they reviewed?
• Who checks expiry dates on medicines?
• Do supply staff know which pupils have allergies?

Guidance

• Supporting pupils with medical conditions at school
• Allergy safety in schools

The DfE expects it · Responsible: Finance committee. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

Spending against the budget, the forecast to the end of the year, and the reasons for any big differences.

Why it matters

The board oversees the school's money. Regular monitoring means overspends are caught early.

Questions to ask

• Where are we furthest from the budget, and why?
• What will the balance be at the end of the year?
• What risks are there to next year's budget?

Guidance

• Schools financial value standard

The DfE expects it · Responsible: Governing board. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

Progress on each priority's targets and actions in SchoolTrack, and the evidence behind it.

Why it matters

Holding leaders to account for the school development plan is one of the board's core functions.

Questions to ask

• Which targets are behind, and what is changing?
• What evidence shows the actions are making a difference?
• Do any priorities need to change?

Guidance

• Maintained schools governance guide
• Ofsted school inspection toolkit

Statutory guidance · Responsible: Pupil premium governor, SEND governor. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

Attainment, progress and attendance of disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND, compared with other pupils, and how the pupil premium is being spent.

Why it matters

The board must know how disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND are doing, and whether the money and support for them works.

Questions to ask

• Is the gap closing, and how do we know?
• Which approaches are working best?
• Are EHCP reviews up to date?

Guidance

• Pupil premium
• SEND code of practice

Good practice · Responsible: Clerk. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

Each statutory policy is on the schedule with its review date, and none is overdue.

Why it matters

Statutory policies must be in place and reviewed as often as the DfE says. A schedule stops any slipping.

Questions to ask

• Which policies are due next term?
• Which policies must be on the website?

Guidance

• Statutory policies for maintained schools

The law · Responsible: Governing board. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

Breaches logged and whether any were reported to the ICO, subject access requests and freedom of information requests, and whether each was answered on time.

Why it matters

The school is responsible for the personal data it holds and must answer requests within the time the law allows.

Questions to ask

• Were any breaches serious enough to report?
• Were all requests answered within a month (subject access) or 20 school days (FOI)?

Guidance

• Data Protection Act 2018
• Freedom of Information Act 2000

Good practice · Responsible: Link governors. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

Each link governor has visited this term with a clear focus agreed with the leader, and written a short report for the board.

Why it matters

Visits let governors see the plan in action and talk to staff and pupils, so they can hold leaders to account with first-hand evidence.

Questions to ask

• What did you see that shows the priority is working?
• What did pupils and staff say?
• What would you ask the leader next time?

Guidance

• Maintained schools governance guide

The law · Responsible: Clerk. Accountable: Chair of governors.

What to check

The meeting was quorate, papers went out at least seven days before, and the minutes record the questions governors asked.

Why it matters

The full board must meet at least three times a year, with an agenda, papers and minutes.

Questions to ask

• Were the papers sent in time?
• Do the minutes show governors challenging and supporting?

Guidance

• School Governance (Roles, Procedures and Allowances) (England) Regulations 2013

The law · Responsible: Clerk. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

The election is on the agenda, the clerk runs it, and the term of office is minuted.

Why it matters

The board must elect a chair and vice-chair from among its governors, for a term of office it sets.

Questions to ask

• When does the chair's term end?
• Is there a plan for the next chair?

Guidance

• School Governance (Roles, Procedures and Allowances) (England) Regulations 2013

The law · Responsible: Governing board. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

Each committee has terms of reference, members and a quorum, and the scheme of delegation is up to date.

Why it matters

The board decides what it delegates and to whom, and must record it.

Questions to ask

• Is anything delegated that the law says the full board must do?
• Does each committee report back to the board?

Guidance

• School Governance (Roles, Procedures and Allowances) (England) Regulations 2013

Statutory guidance · Responsible: Governing board. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

Each link role is filled in SchoolTrack: safeguarding, filtering and monitoring, SEND, attendance, pupil premium, health and safety, and the SDP priorities.

Why it matters

KCSIE expects a senior board lead for safeguarding, and named governors for filtering and monitoring, SEND, attendance and other areas help the board know the school.

Questions to ask

• Does every SDP priority have a link governor?
• Do link governors know what is expected of them?

Guidance

• Keeping children safe in education (Part 2)
• Maintained schools governance guide

Statutory guidance · Responsible: Every governor. Accountable: Chair of governors.

What to check

Every governor has signed to say they have read this year's KCSIE, including what has changed.

Why it matters

Governors must read and understand Keeping children safe in education, and a new edition usually applies from 1 September.

Questions to ask

• What changed in this year's KCSIE?
• Who has not signed yet?

Guidance

• Keeping children safe in education (Part 2)

The law · Responsible: Every governor. Accountable: Chair of governors.

What to check

Every governor has declared business interests, other governance roles and relationships with staff, and signed the code of conduct.

Why it matters

The register of interests must be kept and published, so decisions are seen to be fair.

Questions to ask

• Has anyone's interests changed since last year?
• Is the register on the website?

Guidance

• School Governance (Constitution) (England) Regulations 2012
• Maintained schools governance guide

Statutory guidance · Responsible: Safeguarding governor. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

A record shows every member of staff, including support and part-time staff, has read Part 1 this year.

Why it matters

The board must make sure all staff read Part 1 of KCSIE. From 2026 the short Annex A version has gone, so this covers everyone.

Questions to ask

• How do we know staff understood it, not just read it?
• How are new starters covered?

Guidance

• Keeping children safe in education (Part 2)

Statutory guidance · Responsible: Governing board. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

The policy reflects this year's KCSIE and local arrangements, and is on the website.

Why it matters

The child protection policy must be reviewed every year and published on the website.

Questions to ask

• What changed from last year's policy?
• Does it cover online safety, filtering and child-on-child abuse?

Guidance

• Keeping children safe in education (Part 2)

Statutory guidance · Responsible: Safeguarding governor. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

The training record shows dates for the DSL and deputies, all staff and every governor, and who is due.

Why it matters

The DSL needs training every two years with yearly updates; staff and governors need training at induction and regular updates.

Questions to ask

• When does the DSL's training run out?
• Have all governors had safeguarding training?

Guidance

• Keeping children safe in education (Part 2 and Annex C)

The law · Responsible: Clerk, Link governors. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

Work through the DfE list: contact details, admissions, Ofsted, results, curriculum, behaviour, complaints, SEN report, accessibility, equality, pupil premium, PE and sport premium, governance, charging, values, high earners, remote education, safeguarding and allergy policies.

Why it matters

Maintained schools must publish set information online, and parents and inspectors look for it.

Questions to ask

• What is missing or out of date?
• Who will fix it, and by when?

Guidance

• What maintained schools must publish online

The law · Responsible: Clerk. Accountable: Chair of governors.

What to check

Every governor, the chair and the clerk are listed correctly with their terms of office.

Why it matters

Governor details on Get Information about Schools must be kept up to date.

Questions to ask

• When was it last updated?

Guidance

• Maintained schools governance guide
• Get Information about Schools

The law · Responsible: SENCo. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

The report covers what the regulations require and is on the website.

Why it matters

The school must publish an SEN information report and update it every year.

Questions to ask

• Does it describe what we actually do?
• Has it been updated this year?

Guidance

• Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014
• SEND code of practice

The law · Responsible: Designated safeguarding lead (DSL), Safeguarding governor. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

The audit is completed honestly with the DSL, actions are agreed, and it is sent by the council's date.

Why it matters

Councils ask maintained schools each year to show how they meet their safeguarding duties.

Questions to ask

• What actions came out of last year's audit, and are they done?
• Where do we rate ourselves weakest?

Guidance

• Education Act 2002, section 175

The law · Responsible: Headteacher appraisal panel. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

The panel has reviewed last year's objectives and set new ones linked to the SDP, with the adviser's support.

Why it matters

The board must appraise the headteacher each year, supported by an external adviser.

Questions to ask

• Are the objectives linked to the SDP?
• What support does the headteacher need?

Guidance

• Education (School Teachers' Appraisal) (England) Regulations 2012

Statutory guidance · Responsible: Pay committee. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

The pay policy reflects this year's award and decisions follow it.

Why it matters

The board must have a pay policy and make pay decisions in line with the pay and conditions document.

Questions to ask

• Does the budget allow for this year's award?
• Were any decisions appealed?

Guidance

• School teachers' pay and conditions

The DfE expects it · Responsible: Governing board. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

Results compared with last year and national figures, for all pupils and for disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND.

Why it matters

The board holds leaders to account for pupils' outcomes. Last summer's results (EYFS, phonics, multiplication check and KS2) show where the plan should focus.

Questions to ask

• Which results were weakest, and why?
• How is that reflected in this year's SDP?

Guidance

• Maintained schools governance guide

Good practice · Responsible: Clerk. Accountable: Chair of governors.

What to check

Every governor has completed the audit, and gaps are turned into training or recruitment.

Why it matters

Knowing the board's skills shows where training or new governors are needed.

Questions to ask

• Which skills are we short of?
• Who should we recruit next?

Guidance

• Maintained schools governance guide

The law · Responsible: Headteacher. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

The information is current and on the website.

Why it matters

Maintained schools must publish information each year showing how they meet the public sector equality duty.

Questions to ask

• What does our information show?
• How does it link to our equality objectives?

Guidance

• Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties and Public Authorities) Regulations 2017

The law · Responsible: Headteacher. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

The statement says how the money will be spent, why, and what last year's spending achieved.

Why it matters

Schools must publish a pupil premium strategy statement each year, using the DfE template, by 31 December.

Questions to ask

• What evidence is each approach based on?
• What did last year's spending achieve?

Guidance

• Pupil premium (Conditions of grant)

The DfE expects it · Responsible: Finance committee. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

Each question has been discussed with an honest answer, and actions are agreed for any "no".

Why it matters

The schools financial value standard asks the board to check, with the headteacher, that the school manages its money well.

Questions to ask

• Which answers are "no" or "in part"?
• What did we change since last year?

Guidance

• Schools financial value standard

The DfE expects it · Responsible: Finance committee. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

The school's figures in the DfE benchmarking tool, and any areas where it spends much more or less than similar schools.

Why it matters

Comparing spending with similar schools shows where the school could get better value.

Questions to ask

• Where do we spend most differently, and is that a choice?
• What could we save?

Guidance

• Schools financial value standard
• Financial benchmarking and insights tool

Good practice · Responsible: Headteacher. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

Each priority's progress, and any changes to targets or actions agreed.

Why it matters

Half way through the year is the time to change course on anything not working.

Questions to ask

• What would we stop doing?
• What needs more time or money?

Guidance

• Maintained schools governance guide

The DfE expects it · Responsible: Finance committee. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

Every transaction with a connected person or business is listed, checked against the register of interests, and approved.

Why it matters

Buying from anyone connected to a governor or member of staff must be open and fair.

Questions to ask

• Were they bought at a fair price?
• Did anyone with an interest leave the room?

Guidance

• Schools financial value standard

The DfE expects it · Responsible: Health and safety governor. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

The plan is up to date, contacts are right, and it has been tested or talked through.

Why it matters

The DfE expects schools to have an emergency plan covering incidents such as a fire, a flood, a cyber attack or a lockdown.

Questions to ask

• When was it last tested?
• How would we keep teaching after a cyber attack?

Guidance

• Emergency planning and response for education settings

The DfE expects it · Responsible: Link governors. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

Backups are kept offline and tested, staff use multi-factor login, staff have had training, and there is a plan for an attack.

Why it matters

Cyber attacks on schools are common. The DfE cyber security standards set out what schools should have in place.

Questions to ask

• When was a backup last restored as a test?
• Do all staff use multi-factor login?
• Who would we call first in an attack?

Guidance

• DfE cyber security standards

The DfE expects it · Responsible: Chair of governors. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

The full board has agreed the return, the chair has signed it, and it has gone to the council.

Why it matters

The chair signs the SFVS for the board, and the council must receive it by its deadline, usually the end of March.

Questions to ask

• Has the full board seen it?
• When is the council's deadline?

Guidance

• Schools financial value standard

The law · Responsible: Finance committee. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

The budget matches the SDP's priorities and the three-year forecast is realistic.

Why it matters

The board must approve the budget and send it to the council by its deadline.

Questions to ask

• Does the budget pay for the SDP?
• What is the balance in three years' time?

Guidance

• Schemes for financing schools
• Maintained schools governance guide

The law · Responsible: Health and safety governor. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

Each document is dated within the last year and actions from it are done.

Why it matters

The school must manage health and safety risks, including fire and asbestos.

Questions to ask

• What actions came out of the fire risk assessment?
• Do contractors check the asbestos register before work?

Guidance

• Health and safety advice for schools
• Asbestos management for schools

The law · Responsible: Health and safety governor. Accountable: Headteacher.

What to check

Certificates for legionella, gas, electrical (portable and fixed wiring) and play equipment are in date.

Why it matters

Gas, electrics, water and play equipment must be checked by competent people on a set cycle.

Questions to ask

• Which check is due next?
• Were any faults found, and are they fixed?

Guidance

• Health and safety advice for schools

The law · Responsible: Headteacher. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

The policy follows the DfE guidance, staff know it, and it is on the website.

Why it matters

From September 2026 schools must have an allergy safety policy, review it at least once a year, share it with staff and pupils and publish it on the website.

Questions to ask

• How are staff trained?
• How do we manage allergies on trips and at lunch?

Guidance

• Allergy safety in schools
• Using emergency adrenaline auto-injectors in schools

The law · Responsible: Safeguarding governor. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

The risk assessment is current and staff have had Prevent training.

Why it matters

Schools must have due regard to preventing people being drawn into terrorism, starting with a risk assessment.

Questions to ask

• What local risks are we aware of?
• How is this taught in the curriculum?

Guidance

• Prevent duty guidance

Good practice · Responsible: Headteacher. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

Results, trends since last time, and what will change as a result.

Why it matters

The views of staff, parents and pupils tell the board how the school feels from the inside.

Questions to ask

• What surprised us?
• What will we tell people we have changed?

Guidance

• Maintained schools governance guide
• Ofsted school inspection toolkit

Statutory guidance · Responsible: Filtering and monitoring governor. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

Go through each DfE standard with the DSL and IT lead: roles, what is blocked, how monitoring works, AI tools in web and apps, and what has changed.

Why it matters

The DfE standards say filtering and monitoring must be reviewed at least once a year, and the 2026 update adds the AI tools pupils and staff use.

Questions to ask

• Which AI tools can pupils reach, and are they safe?
• Did the review find anything we must change?

Guidance

• DfE filtering and monitoring standards
• Keeping children safe in education (Part 2)

Good practice · Responsible: Chair of governors. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

Every governor has contributed, and the board has agreed a few actions.

Why it matters

Boards that review how they work are better at holding leaders to account.

Questions to ask

• What do we do well as a board?
• What one thing would make us more effective?

Guidance

• Maintained schools governance guide

The DfE expects it · Responsible: Headteacher. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

The priorities follow from the self-evaluation and this year's results.

Why it matters

Setting the school's direction is one of the board's core functions.

Questions to ask

• Why these priorities and not others?
• How will we know they have worked?

Guidance

• Maintained schools governance guide

Good practice · Responsible: Clerk. Accountable: Chair of governors.

What to check

Meeting dates are set and each duty is on an agenda.

Why it matters

A planned year makes sure every duty comes to the board at the right time.

Questions to ask

• Are the deadlines (31 December, 31 March, 31 July) covered?

Guidance

• Maintained schools governance guide

The law · Responsible: Headteacher, Chair of governors. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

The report covers spending, its impact and swimming, and is on the website.

Why it matters

Schools must publish how they spent the PE and sport premium by 31 July, and the chair signs the digital return to the DfE.

Questions to ask

• What difference did the money make?
• How many Year 6 pupils can swim 25 metres?

Guidance

• PE and sport premium for primary schools
• Maintained schools governance guide

The law · Responsible: Headteacher. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

The plan covers all three areas, has actions and dates, and is published.

Why it matters

Schools must have a plan to improve access to the curriculum, the buildings and information for disabled pupils, renewed every three years.

Questions to ask

• What did the last plan achieve?

Guidance

• Equality Act 2010, Schedule 10 (accessibility plans)

The law · Responsible: Headteacher. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

The objectives are specific and measurable, and published.

Why it matters

Maintained schools must publish at least one equality objective at least every four years.

Questions to ask

• How are we doing against the current objectives?

Guidance

• Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties and Public Authorities) Regulations 2017

Good practice · Responsible: Chair of governors. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

A reviewer has been agreed, and the board has acted on the report.

Why it matters

An independent view helps a board see what it cannot see itself, especially after a weak inspection.

Questions to ask

• What did the last review recommend, and did we do it?

Guidance

• Maintained schools governance guide

The law · Responsible: Clerk. Accountable: Chair of governors.

What to check

The DBS check is done and on the single central record, the governor has an induction pack and a mentor, and safeguarding training is booked.

Why it matters

Every governor needs an enhanced DBS check, and induction and safeguarding training helps them start well.

Questions to ask

• Who will mentor them?

Guidance

• School Governance (Constitution) (England) Regulations 2012
• Keeping children safe in education (Part 2)

The law · Responsible: Headteacher. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

The panel included a trained person, and pre-employment checks were done before the person started.

Why it matters

At least one person on every appointment panel must have had safer recruitment training.

Questions to ask

• Who on the panel was trained, and when?

Guidance

• School Staffing (England) Regulations 2009

Statutory guidance · Responsible: School office. Accountable: Headteacher.

What to check

The check was done before the volunteer started and is on the single central record.

Why it matters

From 2026, every volunteer in regulated activity needs an enhanced DBS check with a barred list check, whether supervised or not.

Questions to ask

• Is the check on the single central record?

Guidance

• Keeping children safe in education (Part 3)

The law · Responsible: Governor panel. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

The meeting is within 15 school days, parents can attend, and the decision and reasons are written down.

Why it matters

Governors must consider reinstating a pupil after a permanent exclusion or long suspensions, within 15 school days.

Questions to ask

• Was the exclusion lawful, reasonable and fair?
• What support was in place beforehand?

Guidance

• Suspension and permanent exclusion guidance

The law · Responsible: Governor panel. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

The panel is impartial, meets within the policy's timescale, and writes to the complainant with its decision.

Why it matters

The complaints procedure must end with a panel of governors who have not been involved before.

Questions to ask

• Has anyone on the panel been involved before?

Guidance

• School complaints procedures guidance

Statutory guidance · Responsible: Chair of governors. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

The LADO was contacted within one working day, and a confidential record kept.

Why it matters

When an allegation is made against the headteacher, the chair is the case manager and must contact the LADO.

Questions to ask

• Has the LADO been told?

Guidance

• Keeping children safe in education (Part 4)

The law · Responsible: Clerk. Accountable: Chair of governors.

What to check

Both are updated within 14 days of the change.

Why it matters

Get Information about Schools and the website must show the current governors.

Questions to ask

• Are terms of office right?

Guidance

• Maintained schools governance guide
• Get Information about Schools

The law · Responsible: Chair of governors. Accountable: Governing board.

What to check

The chair and as many governors as possible meet the inspectors, ready to talk about the SDP, safeguarding and how they hold leaders to account.

Why it matters

Inspectors meet governors to judge leadership and governance, one of the areas on the report card.

Questions to ask

• What would we say are the school's strengths and weaknesses?
• How do we know?

Guidance

• Ofsted school inspection toolkit