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How to review your staff code of conduct

Be confident when reviewing your staff code of conduct. Know what it should include and what questions to ask to make sure your school or trust's code is compliant and robust.

Last reviewed on 20 February 2025See updates
Ref: 38504
Statutory/mandatory for:
Maintained schools
Academies
Free schools
Independent schools
Sixth-form colleges
Pupil referral units
Non-maintained special schools
Contents
  1. Key facts
  2. What this policy needs to do
  3. 3 key questions to challenge the policy
  4. Model code of conduct
  5. Examples from schools and trusts

Key facts

  • This policy is statutory for all school types
  • Approval:
    • Maintained schools – the full governing board must approve
    • Academies can delegate the approval of the policy to a committee of the board, an individual governor or the headteacher
  • It’s recommended that you review it annually
  • The headteacher/CEO and senior leadership team will write and be responsible for the implementation of this policy
  • It's best practice for your leaders to consult with unions represented at your school(s) when they implement changes to this

What this policy needs to do

Your staff code of conduct should clearly set out the standards of conduct that you expect staff to follow. This includes inside and outside of the school.

Governing boards of maintained schools must establish procedures for the regulation of staff conduct, under regulation 7 of the School Staffing (England) Regulations 2009.

It should, among other things, include