Department for Education (DfE) Resources

The Department for Education (DfE) is responsible for children’s services and education in England, including early years, schools, further and higher education, apprenticeships and skills. The DfE publishes a range of statutory guidance, governance resources and updates that all governors should be familiar with.

As a new governor, one of your first priorities should be to understand the statutory responsibilities of governing boards and the key guidance documents that support effective governance.

Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE)

All governors should read and understand the latest version of Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE).

This is statutory guidance that schools and governing boards must have regard to when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Governors should ensure they are familiar with safeguarding requirements and undertake regular safeguarding training.

Governance Handbook

The DfE publishes the Governance Handbook, which is essential reading for governors, trustees and governance professionals.

The handbook provides guidance for:

• Governing boards in local authority maintained schools
• Academy trust boards
• Foundation and diocesan governors
• Governance professionals and clerks
• Organisations supporting school governance

It explains:

• Governing boards' strategic role and functions
• Legal duties and responsibilities
• Accountability arrangements
• Financial oversight
• Effective governance practice
• Sources of support and training

Competency Framework for Governance

The DfE Competency Framework remains a useful self-development tool for governors. It outlines the knowledge, skills and behaviours that contribute to effective governance.

The framework is based upon the Seven Principles of Public Life (Nolan Principles):

• Selflessness
• Integrity
• Objectivity
• Accountability
• Openness
• Honesty
• Leadership

Effective governance is also characterised by the “7 Cs”:

• Committed
• Confident
• Curious
• Challenging
• Collaborative
• Critical
• Creative

Governance Professional Standards

Governance professionals and clerks play a critical role in ensuring boards operate effectively and in accordance with statutory requirements.

The professional standards for governance professionals provide guidance on:

• Governance law and procedure
• Effective meetings
• Advice and support to boards
• Compliance and accountability
• Professional development

Statutory Policies and Governance Regulations

Governors should be familiar with the statutory policies schools are required to have in place and understand the constitutional requirements for governing boards.

Useful resources include:

• Statutory Policies for Schools
• Constitution of Governing Bodies of Maintained Schools 

DfE Governance Updates

The DfE regularly publishes governance updates containing important information for governors and trustees, including policy changes, consultations, safeguarding updates and governance guidance.

Governors are encouraged to subscribe to these updates to remain informed about national developments affecting schools and governance.

Alongside DfE guidance, all new governors are encouraged to complete the following Buckinghamshire training during their first year of office:

OFSTED

Ofsted is the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills. It inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people, including maintained schools, academies, independent schools, further education providers and early years settings.

The Education Inspection Framework (EIF) sets out how Ofsted carries out inspections, the principles that inspectors follow and the key judgements used when evaluating the effectiveness of schools. Governors should have a good understanding of the framework, as inspectors routinely consider the impact of governance during inspections.

Governors should be familiar with:

• Quality of Education
• Behaviour and Attitudes
• Personal Development
• Leadership and Management
• Early Years Provision (where applicable)

Strong governance contributes to effective leadership and management and supports continuous school improvement.

Useful Ofsted Links

• Ofsted Education Inspection Framework (Current Framework) 
• School Inspection Handbook 
• Ofsted Inspection Reports