April 2011
Policies and plans
This list details policies and plans that the governing body should consider, adopt and monitor.
They are not all legally required, but recommended to be adopted by the governing body as good
practice.
Schools adopt policies which are about the day to day running of the school and delivery of the
curriculum. These do not need to be discussed (or even "ratified") by the governing body although
governors may see or refer to them on school visits.
Where possible, hyperlinks have been included to model policies or further information. Where
policies are available on the Torbay Council website, (shown by TC). Some policies are available
on the Torbay Council intranet (shown by TI), which can be accessed by school staff.
Acceptable Behaviour
Policy [staff]
Accessibility Plan
Model LA policy on intranet February 11(TI)
http://insight/schools_acceptable_behaviour_policy_february_2011.doc
Schools are required to have a plan that supports disabled pupils' access
to the curriculum, increases access to education and associated services
and makes written information available in a range of different ways for
disabled pupils. It must be reviewed every three years.
http://education.gov.uk/publications/standard/publicationDetail/Page1/DFES%200160%202006
Admissions Policy
Only governing bodies of schools that are admissions authorities
(voluntary aided, foundation and academies) must adopt an admissions
policy that conforms with the School Admissions Code. Admissions to
community and voluntary controlled schools follows the policy adopted by
Torbay Council.
http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/adminandfinance/schooladmissions/a00195/currentcodes-and-regulations
Anti-bullying Policy
[pupils]
The policy must be consulted on every three years (but should be
reviewed annually) between 1 November and 1 March, any
representations being considered between 1 March and 15 April and the
arrangements determined by 15 April and published by the LA by 5 May
annually. The Admissions Code is likely to be changed to accommodate
changes to government policy.
Will be part of the school's behaviour policy.
Materials formerly on the Teachernet website
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100210101408/http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/whol
eschool/behaviour/schooldisciplinepupilbehaviourpolicies/
Asset Management
Plan
Schools should plan a cyclical maintenance programme to help prolong
the durability of their buildings, plant and equipment and to reduce
reactive repairs. The LA carries out regular surveys of schools –
including the condition survey – this information is then used to develop a
rolling programme of repairs and maintenance. More information on the
Torbay Property Handbook:
http://www.torbay.gov.uk/index/education/schools/organisation-assetmanagement/buildingland-issues/propertyhandbook.htm
Attendance [pupils]
The governing body needs to be aware of the level of pupil attendance
and the policy and procedures used to manage pupils' absence
http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/pupilsupport/behaviour/attendance/a0010012/schoolattendance
Behaviour and
Discipline Policy
[pupils]
Current consultation on a range of documents
Capability Policy
Model LA policy and procedure September 10 (TI)
http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/pupilsupport/behaviour/behaviourpolicies
Materials formerly on the Teachernet website
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100210101408/http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/whol
eschool/behaviour/schooldisciplinepupilbehaviourpolicies/
http://insight/schools-capability-policy-procedure.doc
Other relevant docs
http://insight/index/information/humanresources/schoolsmodelpolicies/schoolscapabilitypolic
y.htm
Carers Support Policy
Model LA policy October 08 (TI)
http://insight/schools-carersupportpolicy.doc
Charges and
Remissions for School
Model LA policy March 10 (TC). Usually updated by LA in response to
changes in eligibility for benefits.
April 2011
Activities Policy
Child Protection Policy
http://www.torbay.gov.uk/charges-remissions-policy.doc
Model LA policy October 09 (TI)
http://insight/school-model-child-protection-policy-nov2009.doc
Model procedures November 09 (TI)
http://insight/school-model-child-protection-procedures-nov2009.doc
Collective Worship
All maintained schools must provide a daily act of collective worship for
their pupils. For foundation or voluntary schools, this will depend on the
religious character of the school. Schools are likely to adopt a policy
about how collective worship is conducted.
http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/r/non%20statutory%20guidance%20on%20colle
ctive%20worship.pdf
Community Cohesion
Guidance on duty to promote community cohesion
http://education.gov.uk/publications/standard/publicationDetail/Page1/DCSF-00598-2007
Complaints about the
curriculum procedure
Complaints procedure
Should be linked with all equalities strands
Model LA procedure March 10 (TC)
http://www.torbay.gov.uk/schools-curriculum-complaints-procedure.doc
Model LA policy March 10 (TC)
http://www.torbay.gov.uk/modelschoolcomplaintsprocedure.doc
Computer security
policy [staff]
Model LA policy covering use of internet, email and general use of ICT
December 08 (TI)
http://insight/schools-computer-security-policy.doc
CRB checks guidelines
Should be part of staff handbook, staff induction and cross referenced
with H&S and safeguarding.
Model LA guidance docs March 11 (TI)
http://insight/index/information/humanresources/schoolsmodelpolicies/schoolscrbchecks.htm
Critical Illness Policy
Links with safeguarding and recruitment and selection policies
Model LA policy September 10 (TI)
http://insight/index/information/humanresources/schoolsmodelpolicies/modelcriticalillnesspol
icy.htm
Critical Incident Plan /
Emergency Plan
Curriculum Policy
Data Protection Policy
Model LA plan September 09 (TC)
http://www.torbay.gov.uk/criticalincidentplanfortorbayschools.pdf
Governors should discuss how they would respond to a major incident at
their school and how to deal with the press; they should not be involved in
operational detail
Overarching statement on the curriculum
Model LA policy August 08 (TI) and procedures
http://insight/index/information/humanresources/schoolsmodelpolicies/modeldataprotectionp
olicies.htm
Disability Equality
Scheme
Linked with FOI Publication Scheme
Should be linked with Equality and Diversity Policy
http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/pupilsupport/inclusionandlearnersupport/inclusion/equa
lityanddiversity/a0030/disability-equality-scheme-2006
Materials formerly on the Teachernet website
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100210101408/http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/man
agement/atoz/d/disabilitydiscrimination/
Disciplinary Policy
[staff]
Model LA policy and guidance February 11(TI)
Display Screen
Equipment Policy
Domestic Violence
Guidance [staff]
Drug and Alcohol
Misuse Policy [staff]
Eligibility to Work
Policy
Employee
Development
Guidance
Employing Apprentices
Part of H&S. Governors do not need to agree this: they should receive
periodic monitoring information as part of H&S reporting.
Model LA policy June 10 (TI)
http://insight/index/information/humanresources/schoolsmodelpolicies/schoolsdiscplinarypoli
cy.htm
http://insight/schools__domestic_violence_policy_june_2010.doc
Model LA policy October 10 (TI)
http://insight/model_drug_and_alcohol_misuse_policy_october_2010.doc
This is part of the recruitment requirements. Governors do not need to
agree this.
Model LA guidance September 07 (TI)
http://insight/schools-employee-development.doc
Model LA guidelines June 09 (TI)
http://insight/employing_apprentices
Equal Opportunities in
Model LA policy October 10 (TI)
April 2011
Employment Policy
Equality and Diversity
Policy
http://insight/schools-eopolicy.doc
School should have general equalities statement and more detail
covering all equality strands: age, disability, gender, race, religious belief,
sexual orientation
http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/pupilsupport/inclusionandlearnersupport/inclusion/equa
lityanddiversity
Materials formerly on the Teachernet website
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100210101408/http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/docb
ank/index.cfm?id=11059
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100210101408/http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/whol
eschool/equality/
Finance Policy
Model LA policy describing arrangements for ensuring proper financial
management April 10 on Finance intranet (TI); section 4 gives details of
financial regulations relating to schools
http://www.torbay.gov.uk/rd-financingscheme-schools.pdf
Fire Safety
Management Policy
First Aid Policy
Fixed Term Worker
Policy
Linked to H&S and should be referred to in staff induction and staff
handbook. Governors do not need to agree this: they should receive
periodic monitoring information as part of H&S reporting.
Governors do not need to agree this: they should receive periodic
monitoring information as part of H&S reporting.
Model LA policy August 08 (TI)
http://insight/index/information/humanresources/schoolsmodelpolicies/modelfixedtermworker
s.htm
Flexible Retirement
Policy
Model LA policy on intranet March 11(TI)
Flexible Working
Guidance
Model LA policy on intranet March 11 (TI)
Freedom of
Information Publication
Scheme
The governing body must agreed a publication scheme and access
policy.
Information is available on the Information Commissioner's website
http://insight/index/information/humanresources/schoolsmodelpolicies/modelflexibleretireme
nt.htm
http://insight/index/information/humanresources/schoolsmodelpolicies/modelflexibleworking.
htm
http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/library/freedom_of_information/detailed_specialist_
guides/schools_england_v2.pdf
Gender equality duty
Linked to other equalities strands and general equal opportunities
(equalities) policy and applies to pupils, staff and parents
http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/pupilsupport/inclusionandlearnersupport/inclusion/equa
lityanddiversity/gender/a0014832/gender-equality-duty
Materials formerly on the Teachernet website
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100210101408/http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/whol
eschool/equality/genderequalityduty/
Gifted and Talented
Children Policy
Governors' Code of
Conduct
Model LA policy and guidelines 07 (TC); should be linked with SEN policy
http://www.torbay.gov.uk/gifted-and-talented-policy-and-guidelines-2007.doc
This is the code of conduct agreed by the National Governors'
Association
http://www.nga.org.uk/uploadfiles/documents/CODE%20OF%20CONDUCT%20CONS%20VERS
ION.pdf
Governors' Expenses
Policy
Governors' Visits
Policy
Model LA policy October 06 (TC)
http://www.torbay.gov.uk/model-expenses-policy-governing-bodies.doc
Needs to be included in governor induction. Policy should be negotiated
with staff: purpose and style of school visits and included in staff induction
and staff handbook.
http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/doc/i/policy%20and%20protocol%20for%20governo
r%20visits.doc
Grievance Policy [staff]
Model LA policy September 10 (TI)
http://insight/index/information/humanresources/schoolsmodelpolicies/schoolsgrievancepolic
y.htm
Health and Safety
Policy
There is a great range of school Health and Safety documents available
on the Torbay Council website (TC). Governors should agree a general
H&S statement but do not need to agree the detailed operational policies
and procedures that determine day to day practice. Governors should
receive periodic monitoring information on the various aspects of the
policy.
http://www.torbay.gov.uk/index/education/schools/schoolshealthandsafety.htm
April 2011
Inclusion Policy
LA strategic policy April 03 (TC)
http://www.torbay.gov.uk/education-inclusion-policy.pdf
Intimate Care Policy
Leave Arrangements
This is a policy that will only apply to specific pupils. If it is relevant, staff
need to be trained appropriately and the policy should be referred to in
staff induction and staff handbook. Governors do not need to agree this:
they should receive periodic monitoring information as part of H&S
reporting.
Model LA policy May 10 (TI)
http://insight/schools-model-leave-arrangements.doc
Lettings Policy
Financial regulations require a school to have a policy and procedures
covering lettings. There is currently no model LA policy.
http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/governance/guidetothelaw/b0065507/gttl/cont
rol-community/use-of-premises
Lone Working Policy
Managing Attendance
and Managing Stress
in the Workplace
Managing
Performance Policy
Maternity, Adoption
and Paternity Policy
Mediation Guidelines
[staff]
Off site visits Policy
Issues about lone working should be included in H&S and referred to in
staff induction and staff handbook. The Suzie Lamplugh Trust provides
some useful information. Governors should receive periodic monitoring
information as part of H&S reporting. http://www.suzylamplugh.org/
Model LA policy April 10 (TI)
http://insight/schools-managing-attendance.doc
Model LA policy October 08 (TI)
http://insight/managing-stress.doc
Model RIG policy September 09 (TI)
http://insight/smp-performance.doc
A PM policy is legally required for teaching staff, but there should be
similar arrangements for support staff
Model LA policies and guidance March 11(TI)
http://insight/index/information/humanresources/schoolsmodelpolicies/maternitypolicies.htm
Model LA guidelines October 10 (TI)
http://insight/schools__mediation_guidance_october_2010.doc
LA guidance on outdoor and residential education (TC)
http://www.torbay.gov.uk/index/education/out-of-school-activities/educationalvisits.htm
Materials formerly on the Teachernet website
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100210101408/http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/whol
eschool/healthandsafety/visits/
Pay Policy
Monitoring information on risk assessments must be passed back to
governors and costs of visits monitored to ensure they are not a drain on
budget if parental contributions low.
Model LA policy October 10 (TI)
http://insight/schools-model-pay-policy.doc
For support staff on NJC conditions
http://insight/pay-policy.pdf
Prevention of [Staff]
Bullying and
Harassment Policy
Race Equality Policy
Model LA policy and procedures June 09 (TI)
http://insight/schools-prevention-bullying-harrassment.doc
Linked to other equalities strands and general equal opportunities or
equalities policy and applies to pupils, staff and parents. Guidance on
developing a race equality policy.
http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/pupilsupport/inclusionandlearnersupport/inclusion/equa
lityanddiversity/racism/a0014836/race-equality-policies-in-schools
Materials formerly on the Teachernet website
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100210101408/http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/whol
eschool/equality/race/
Recruitment and
Selection Policy
LA model August 10 (TI)
http://insight/schoolsrecselguidance.doc
There is also a lot of good practice guidance and model paperwork that
governors involved in recruitment should be aware of
http://insight/schoolsrecselguidance-2.doc
Redundancy Policy
Model LA policy September 10 (TI)
http://insight/index/information/humanresources/schoolsmodelpolicies/modelredundancypoli
cy.htm
Religion or belief –
prevention of
Part of equality duties and community cohesion. Must prevent
discrimination; policy not legally required but governing body must ensure
April 2011
discrimination
the school addresses the issues.
Materials formerly on the Teachernet website
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100210101408/http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/whol
eschool/equality/religion/
Religious Education
All maintained schools must provide RE for their pupils. In community and
foundation schools without a religious character, RE is taught following
the Agreed Syllabus (drawn up jointly with Devon and Plymouth by the
Agreed Syllabus Conference). Foundation or voluntary controlled
schools with a religious character also usually follow the Agreed Syllabus.
In VA schools with a religious character, it is provided in accordance with
the school's trust deed.
http://education.gov.uk/publications/standard/publicationDetail/Page1/DCSF-00114-2010
Retirement Planning
Information, advice and model documents on retirement planning April
11(TI). Governors should know this guidance is available but do not need
to adopt a separate policy for this.
http://insight/index/information/humanresources/retirementplanning.htm
Sex and Relationships
Education
Sexual Orientation –
prevention of
discrimination
DfE information on SRE review
http://education.gov.uk/publications/standard/publicationDetail/Page1/DCSF-00860-2008
Parents must be informed of their right to withdraw their child
Linked to other equalities strands and general equal opportunities or
equalities policy and applies to staff, parents and pupils.
http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/pupilsupport/inclusionandlearnersupport/inclusion/equa
lityanddiversity/gender/a0014831/sexual-orientation
Materials formerly on the Teachernet website
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100210101408/http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/whol
eschool/equality/sexualorientation/
Social Networking
Guidance [staff]
Special Educational
Needs Policy
Model LA guidance January 11 (TI)
http://insight/social_networking_-_schools_guidance_jan_2011.doc
LA information on various aspects of provision for pupils with SEN (TC).
Should be linked with gifted and talented and inclusion policies
http://www.torbay.gov.uk/sen
Temporary Acting Up
or Additional Duties
Process map and application (TI)
Time off to train
guidance
Trade Union
Partnership Agreement
and Consultation
Arrangements
TUPE guidelines
Model LA guidance April 10 (TI)
http://insight/temporaryactinguporadditionaldutiesapplication.doc
http://insight/tempactinguporadditionaldutiesprocess_map-2.doc
http://insight/righttorequesttime-offfortrainingapril2010.doc
Model LA guidance March 10 (TI)
http://insight/school-model-trade-union-partnerships.doc
Model LA guidelines December 07 (TI) on the Transfer of Undertakings
Protection of Employment (TUPE)
http://insight/schools-tupe-guidelines.doc
Voluntary reduced
Hours Scheme
Volunteers and Work
Experience Policies
[staff]
Of most relevance to schools changing category to one where the
governing body is the employer of staff
LA model February 11 (TI)
http://insight/voluntary_reduced_working_hours_scheme_march_2011-2.doc
Volunteer guidelines: supporting employers doing volunteer work, LA
model December 07 (TI)
http://insight/schools-volunteer-policy.doc
Work experience: a guide for employers, LA model October 09 (TI)
http://insight/workexperienceguideforemployersdfes.pdf
Whistle Blowing Policy
[staff]
Work/Life Balance
Policy
Cross reference with safeguarding arrangements, staff handbook and
induction
LA model policy August 08 (TI); cross reference with Finance Policy
http://insight/index/information/humanresources/schoolsmodelpolicies/modelwhistleblowingp
olicy.htm
LA model work/life strategy and policy Nov 08 (TI)
http://insight/index/information/humanresources/schoolsmodelpolicies/modelworklifebalance.
htm