Guidance

Maintained schools: governance guide

Guidance on the strategic leadership and governance of local-authority-maintained schools.

Applies to England

Documents

Details

This non-statutory guidance is a reference document for those involved in local-authority-maintained school governance. It brings together essential information from a range of sources on the governing body’s roles and legal responsibilities.

This is intended to be a digital guide. If you have created a PDF or printed copy, check you have got the most recent updates made on 25 June 2025.

In 7.3 ‘Funding and finances’ – updated the status of the teachers’ pay additional grant, teachers’ pension employer contribution grant, core schools budget grant, National Insurance contributions grant and the chair’s sign-off of the digital reporting form.

In 7.8.2 ‘Pupil Mental Health and Wellbeing’ – added a section on nutrition.

In 7.8.3 ‘Supporting pupils in school with medical conditions’ – added new guidance including information on the governing bodies’ responsibilities.

In 7.13.3 ‘Complaints to Ofsted’ updated to include qualifying complaints.

Updates to this page

Published 19 November 2025

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