How to review a trust-wide policy

Get advice on how to look at any policy your trust sets centrally with a critical eye. Make sure you're clear on your role in the process as a trustee or local governor.

Last reviewed on 9 May 2024
School types: AllSchool phases: AllRef: 40851
Contents
  1. Trustees will discuss the draft policy
  2. Be clear on the basics
  3. Key questions to challenge a trust-wide policy

Note, if you’re on:

  • The board of trustees, you’ll be reviewing trust-wide policies that’ll be set for all schools within your trust
  • local governing body (LGB) it’s unlikely you’ll need to review trust-wide policies in detail, as they will have already been reviewed by the trust board 
    • You’ll make sure any policies have been adapted for your school where necessary - you can find question prompts later in this article

Find out more about setting policies centrally, including which ones to cover trust-wide and which to make at school level.

Trustees will discuss the draft policy

This could be the full board of trustees, or a trust committee if the policy's been delegated.

Invite the member of staff who drafted/reviewed the policy, so you can ask them the questions below Read the draft and any notes the chair of the board/committee has made in advance They should highlight