What this policy needs to do
A good procurement policy will ensure that every purchase in your school or trust is managed in the most effective and appropriate way.
All schools/trusts must comply with procurement legislation, including the Procurement Act 2023 for contracts over certain financial thresholds. A procurement policy provides the mechanism for translating these complex legal requirements into practical day-to-day procedures in your school(s).
You don't need a complex understanding of procurement legislation, but if you're new to this topic, get to grips with the basics of how your school or trust buys goods and services and your board's role in monitoring procurement in our other articles.
Academy trusts: follow new requirements in the Academy Trust Handbook
Consider DfE opportunities when making purchasing decisions, and record their decision-making Use the Government Commercial Agency's supply teachers and education recruitment framework for supply staffing requirements (unless you have an alternative