Statutory policies for trusts

Information for trust boards and governance professionals on the policies and documents they must have.

This is not intended to be a complete list of policies. Unless otherwise stated in the relevant statutory or non-statutory guidance, it is up to boards to decide whether and how to delegate the creation, maintenance and approval of policy documents within their trust.   

Boards remain accountable for these documents and the policies and procedures contained within them. 

The list includes a link to where trusts can find guidance and, where available, a model policy.

Advice and model policies may also be available from sector organisations such as:

• National Governance Association
• Confederation of School Trusts
• GovernorHub
• Catholic Education Service
• Church of England Education Office

Statutory policies for trust boards

Trust boards must have policies on:

• admissions arrangements – school admissions code

• behaviour – keeping children safe in education, behaviour in schools

• careers: provider access policy statement (secondary education) – careers statutory guidance

• charging and remissions – charging for school activities

• data protection privacy notice – data protection: privacy notice model documents

• equality objectives – Equality Act 2010: advice for schools

• health and safety –  health and safety: advice for schools

• premises management – good estate management for schools

• relationships and sex education and health education – relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education

• safeguarding and child protection – keeping children safe in education

• school attendance – working together to improve school attendance

• school complaints – setting up an academies complaints procedure

• school exclusions – school suspensions and permanent exclusions

• school uniform – statutory guidance on cost of school uniforms and guidance on school uniforms

• special educational needs and disability – SEND code of practice: 0 to 25 years

• staff behaviour and grievance – staffing and employment: advice for schools and keeping children safe in education

• support for pupils with medical conditions – supporting pupils with medical conditions at school

Review process

It is recommended that trust boards should review these policies annually. This is with the exception of the equality objectives policies which can be be reviewed every 4 years.