Background

Standing Orders set out the agreed procedures and working practices adopted by the governing board to support the effective conduct of its business. They complement statutory governance requirements by recording local decisions about how the board will operate.

Standing Orders help to ensure consistency, transparency and good governance and should be reviewed regularly to ensure they remain fit for purpose.

Why are Standing Orders Important?

Standing Orders can help governing boards to:

• Clarify how meetings will be conducted.
• Establish expectations for governor attendance and participation.
• Set out arrangements for decision-making and voting.
• Record agreed governance practices that are not covered by legislation.
• Promote consistency in governance procedures.

Reviewing Standing Orders

Governing boards should review their Standing Orders annually and whenever there are significant changes to governance arrangements, board structure or relevant legislation.

When reviewing Standing Orders, boards may wish to consider:

• Whether current arrangements still reflect how the board operates.
• The effectiveness of meeting procedures.
• Changes to committee structures or delegated responsibilities.
• Lessons learned from board self-evaluation or external reviews.

Model Templates

The following model templates are available to support governing boards:

Maintained Schools

• Standing Orders Template (Full Version) – coming soon
• Standing Orders Template (Short Version) – coming soon

Academy Trusts

• Standing Orders Template (Full Version) – coming soon
• Standing Orders Template (Short Version)

The full versions include explanatory guidance and examples. The short versions contain only the wording for adoption by the board.

Related Documents

• Instrument of Government
• Governing Board Constitution
• Terms of Reference
• Code of Conduct
• Scheme of Delegation (Academies)

Further Information

Schools may adapt the model documents to reflect their local circumstances, provided they remain consistent with their legal responsibilities and governance framework.