Your first port of call: the Governance Handbook
The Governance Handbook will often be the first place to look for anything governance-related. It's not legislation itself, but it:
- Sets out the core role and functions of the governing board
- Summarises all the legal duties on boards, signposting to more detailed information, guidance and resources
- Provides information on the support available to boards to be effective
It's published by the Department for Education (DfE) and is usually updated annually.
Maintained school regulations
Constitution of the board
The School Governance (Constitution) (England) Regulations 2012 set out the rules on how your board must be made up, and who can be on it.
The DfE has published statutory guidance on these regulations, which makes them easier to understand.
The categories of governor and how they're appointed or elected, including the process for parent and staff governor elections How many of each