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How to review your procurement policy

An effective procurement policy should clearly set out your school or trust's approach to buying goods and services, including competitive tendering procedures. Download our model policy so you can see what good looks like, and use our suggested questions to challenge your senior leaders.

Last reviewed on 25 March 2026
Ref: 45759
Statutory/mandatory for:
Academies
Contents
  1. Key facts
  2. What this policy needs to do
  3. Download our model policy
  4. 3 key questions to challenge this policy
  5. Example from a maintained school
  6. Example from a trust

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. A formal policy provides a written audit trail for all purchasing decisions, and means that your school/trust can justify how public money has been spent.

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.

Remember, it's not your job to write the policy. This is the