Guidance

Governance structures and roles

An explanation of how governing boards of maintained schools and academy trusts are structured and descriptions of the roles and responsibilities of members.

• From: Department for Education
• Published: 8 October 2020
• Last updated: 24 November 2020
  Show all updates

  1. 24 November 2020

     Footnote 14 has been amended in the 'Maintained school governance: Structures and Role Descriptors' to reference the correct legislation. A link to School Governance (Constitution and Federations) (England) (Amendments) 2016 was also added to the 'Summary' section.

  2. 8 October 2020

     First published.

This publication was withdrawn on 7 March 2024

Information relating to governance is available in the maintained school governance guide or academy trust governance guide.

Applies to England

Documents

[WITHDRAWN] Maintained school governance: structures and roles

Ref: DfE-00168-2020

PDF, 771 KB, 22 pages

[WITHDRAWN] Academy trust governance: structures and roles

Ref: DfE-00167-2020

PDF, 1.02 MB, 32 pages

Details

The documents describe high-level school and trust governance structures and the roles within them.

They are an introduction to the governance system across the education sector and can be used in inductions for new volunteers. The guidance is for:

• governors and academy trustees
• chairs of governing boards or academy trusts
• members of academy trusts
• clerks and governance professionals
• school and academy leaders
• local governing bodies
• local authorities

Read Baroness Berridge’s letter to academy trust members about governance structures and roles.