Governors' allowances and expenses policy: model and examples

Download our model policy

 Model policy: governors' allowances and expenses

Our model policy:

• Takes into account relevant requirements and good practice
• Is designed for you to adapt to fit your school's context
• Has been approved by Forbes Solicitors

Please note: this model policy is aimed primarily at maintained schools, but can be easily adapted to suit any school. If you wish to use the policy in a different type of setting – e.g. academies, a pupil referral unit (PRU) or non-maintained special school – we recommend you check this policy against any requirements or considerations specific to your context and adapt it accordingly.

For more model policies and complete policy support from The Key, see the policy bank.

Download our policy checklist

Use this policy checklist to help you when creating or reviewing your own governors' allowances policy.

Download: governors' allowances and expenses policy – checklist

Examples from schools 

Orleans Primary School, a community primary school in Richmond upon Thames

Royal Cross Primary School, a special school in Lancashire

Shoreditch Park Primary School, a community school in Hackney (scroll down to section 5, 'finance')

Spalding High School, a community secondary school in Lincolnshire

Regulations on governors’ allowance

Governors and associate members can be paid allowances for expenses necessarily incurred for the purpose of performing their duties.

• For travel expenses using private cars, bicycles and motorcycles, the rate for payments must not go above the approved mileage rates published by HMRC
• For all other expenses, the governing board can determine the rate of payment 

Receipts need to be provided for allowances to be paid.

This is set out in regulation 28(2) and regulation 30 of the The School Governance (Roles, Procedures and Allowances) (England) Regulations 2013.

Check HMRC's current mileage and fuel rates and allowances guidance.

Should we pay expenses?

When school budgets are tight, it's understandable that some governing boards might consider not paying expenses to governors – think carefully about this before you decide.

Not paying expenses may have an impact on governor recruitment and retention, along with the diversity of the board. For example, single parents might not put themselves forward for a governor vacancy as they may worry about childcare costs if they’re unable to arrange childcare with friends or family.

Consider paying some expenses

Some boards consider what ‘reasonable’ expenses they're willing to pay, to make sure governors aren't left out of pocket.

For example, this might include:

• Travel expenses for a governor away day that requires governors to travel further than they do to get to school
• Childcare costs where a governor is unable to arrange childcare with friends and family

This should be set out clearly in your policy.

Tell your governors if you decide not to pay expenses

You can communicate this to your board by writing a simple statement outlining that governors are not paid expenses, and the reason(s) why.

This information should be written:

• On your school's website or in a governors' allowances and expenses policy
• In any adverts for new governors, so expectations are set before people apply
• Within induction documents for new governors