New updates to governance guide for Maintained Schools

The Department for Education (DfE) has published an updated version of the Governance Guide for maintained schools. The changes to existing guidance is minimal, but boards will need to be aware of the following:

• Greater emphasis on the requirement for governing bodies to demonstrate the active promotion of fundamental British values (democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs)
• The need for all board members to have a basic understanding of the school’s legal requirements on procurement as well as on accountability and spending, along with links to relevant guidance and services
• School funding information – grants added and removed
• A requirement for the chair to sign off the school’s digital reporting form return on how the school has used its PE and sport premium allocation
• Update to the legal basis for keeping admission and attendance registers and for providing information requested by the Secretary of State on attendance
• Suggested guidance to support the promotion of good behaviour of pupils, including the use of mobile phones and searching, screening and confiscation in schools
• A greater emphasis on the requirement for the school premises and facilities to be kept up to a standard where the health, safety and welfare of pupils is guaranteed.
• A new section on nutrition under pupil mental health and wellbeing to cover the board’s role and policy on school food.