New governance guides replace the Governance Handbook

The Department for Education (DfE) has published two new governance guides, to replace the Governance Handbook:

• Maintained Schools Governance Guide
• Academy Trust Governance Guide

The new guides change the format and streamline things, but do not include any new requirements. So Boards/Trusts do not need to take any action other than to ensure they are aware of and familiar with the new guides.

Alongside this, the DfE has withdrawn the following:

• Governance Handbook
• Governance Competency Framework
• Clerking Competency Framework
• Governance Structures and Roles
• Statutory Policies for Schools and Academy Trusts

most of which is now covered in the new guides.

The biggest difference will be seen by Academy Trusts. The Academy Trust Governance Guide is structured around the DfE’s Trust Quality Descriptions, incorporating policy changes from the past 18 months. For trusts, the ‘purpose of governance’ has replaced the previous three ‘core functions’, now setting out the focus for those who govern: to provide strategic leadership, accountability and assurance, and strategic engagement. 

For Maintained schools the differences include

Separate guides are now available for trusts and maintained schools.

• The Governance Competency Framework and Governance Structures and Roles guidance have been archived.
• The list of statutory policies has been incorporated into the guides, now providing a concise
  summary of key policies.
• A section on chair’s action describes the circumstances in which a chair may take decisions on behalf of the governing body.
• Requirements for headteachers to report information to the board, including matters relating to delegated duties, operational advice and compliance with reasonable directions.
• Clarification on the board’s estate management responsibilities, specifically relating to asbestos.
• Setting expectations on the performance management of the governance professional (clerk).