This article refers to the maintained schools governance guide, the DfE’s primary source of governance information for the maintained sector.
The guide contains 7 main sections. There's also a section at the beginning that gives definitions of the terms used, and a section at the end that lists the statutory policies your school must have.
1. Effective governance
The effective governance section sets out:
- The functions of the governing body which include ensuring:
- That the vision, ethos and strategic direction of the school are clearly defined
- That the headteacher performs their responsibilities for the educational performance of the school
- The sound, proper and effective use of the school's financial resources
This section also sets out:
- The 6 features of effective governance (in section 1.2):
- Strategic leadership
- Accountability
- People
- Governance structures
- Compliance
- Evaluation
2. Strategic leadership
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