Background

The governing board may establish committees to carry out specified functions on its behalf. The governing board must determine the constitution, membership and terms of reference of any committee it establishes, including the extent of any delegated powers. The governing board remains accountable for all delegated functions and should review committee membership, delegated responsibilities and terms of reference at least annually to ensure they remain effective and compliant with current legislation and governance arrangements.

Approval

Full Governing Board.

Review Frequency

Annually. Review may also take place following changes to legislation, governance structure, or committee responsibilities.

Legislation

The School Governance (Roles, Procedures and Allowances) (England) Regulations 2013 (SI 2013/1624).

DfE Guidance

Maintained Schools: Governance Guide (Department for Education, updated July 2026).