Last reviewed on 13 February 2023
Statutory/mandatory for: Academies Free schools Independent schools

Use our recommended questions to help you confidently approve your school's risk assessment policy.

What this policy needs to do

If you're in an academy, free school or independent school, the policy must take into account paragraph 16 of part 3 of The Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014, i.e. that pupils' welfare is safeguarded and promoted.

If you're in an academy or free school, it must also comply with your funding agreement and articles of association.

It's not your job to cross-reference the policy with the above, but you should expect your headteacher to have done so.

Read this article to find out more about your role in relation to health and safety in your school.

3 key questions to challenge the policy

Use our list of standard policy review questions as a starting point, then ask the ones below.

1. Does the policy address all