Important changes are happening across key areas of governing board responsibility this September, with several Department for Education (DfE) guidance updates coming into force.
We鈥檝e summarised the changes you need to be aware of and highlighted useful resources to ensure you continue to fulfil the requirements of your role.
Safeguarding
A new version of the statutory guidance聽聽(KCSIE) is now in force, with changes including new safeguarding training requirements for governing boards.聽Read our safeguarding guidance聽to get up to speed and gain a deeper understanding of your responsibilities.
School attendance
狈别飞听聽guidance from the DfE outlines governing board responsibilities for developing and maintaining a whole school culture that promotes the benefits of high attendance. The guidance, which is non-statutory, makes clear that all schools should have a school attendance policy and聽details what should be included in it. There is also an expectation that boards will review attendance data to monitor the impact of school-wide attendance efforts.聽Use our attendance information sheet聽to prompt your conversations with school/trust leaders about meeting the new requirements. You can also聽watch our attendance webinar聽which explores what improving and maintaining good attendance might look like in practice.
Behaviour policy and management
New 顿蹿贰听聽sets out what effective behaviour management in schools looks like and what must be included in a school behaviour policy. Our聽updated behaviour management guidance聽explains the governing board鈥檚 role in influencing behaviour policy and practice and monitoring its implementation. We encourage you to use our guidance to support your board鈥檚 behaviour management oversight.
Suspensions and exclusions
顿蹿贰听聽has been updated. Among the changes are new requirements relating to who headteachers must notify when making the decision to suspend (previously known as a fixed term exclusion) or permanently exclude a pupil and withdrawing such decisions. Updated 海角社区聽exclusions resources聽reflect the changes and are designed to support members of an exclusion panel as well as governance professionals providing procedural support. 海角社区 Learning Link subscribers can also聽complete a minimising exclusions e-learning module.
Planning for the year ahead
If you鈥檙e a chair or governance professional, you鈥檙e likely spending time this month planning for the year ahead. We recommend that you make use of our聽policy review schedule听补苍诲听annual governance planner聽to help construct meeting agendas in partnership with your executive leader.
Head of Content
As Head of Content, Ella takes the lead on coordinating content development across the organisation. She also oversees 海角社区’s Knowledge Centre, ensuring members can find information and guidance on a range of governance topics.