DBS checks: requirements for governors (maintained)

Last reviewed on 13 August 2021
School types: Maintained · School phases: All
Ref: 3973

Find out what checks are required for governors in maintained schools, so you can make sure your school is compliant.

Article tools

Contents

  1. Checks required by all governors
  2. Anyone involved in 'regulated activity' also requires a barred list check
  3. Applying for a check
  4. Associate members don't require checks
  5. Clerks don't require checks

Checks required by all governors

Enhanced DBS check

If you're a governor in a maintained school, you're required to have an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

An enhanced DBS check will:

  • Look for spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings
  • Ask local police for any additional information that is reasonably considered relevant to the role

You're disqualified from holding office as a governor if you refuse a request for a DBS check.

Section 128 check

You should also have a section 128 check. If someone has a section 128 direction issued against them, then they're banned from being involved in the management and governance of schools, and can't be a governor.

This is explained in paragraph 241 of Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2021.

Anyone involved in 'regulated activity' also requires a barred list check

If you're in regulated activity you need a barred list check as well as an enhanced DBS check. 

Read next

Also in 'DBS checks'