How to review your whistle-blowing policy: checklist, model and examples

Academies are required to have a whistle-blowing policy. Understand the requirements and use our checklist and model policy to review the procedure for your school or trust.

New
on 6 May 2025
See updates
Ref: 45346
Statutory/mandatory for:
Academies
Free schools
Contents
  1. Key facts
  2. Requirements for academies
  3. Maintained schools: use your local authority (LA)'s procedures
  4. How to review the policy: key questions to ask
  5. Model policy and checklist
  6. Example policies

Requirements for academies

In addition to having this policy and publishing it on the trust website, your trust:

  • Should appoint at least 1 trustee and 1 member of staff who other staff can contact to report concerns
  • Must make sure all staff are aware of the procedures and how concerns will be managed
  • Must make sure all concerns are responded to in a fair and proper way

Staff should know:

  • What protections are available to them if they report something
  • What areas of malpractice or wrongdoing are covered by the whistle-blowing policy
  • Who they can approach to report a concern

This is set out in the Academy Trust Handbook (paragraphs 2.40 to 2.44).

Maintained schools: use your local authority (LA)'s procedures

Your school leaders should base your school's policy on the LA's whistle-blowing arrangements. They should tailor them to fit your