Health and safety audit: template and guidance

Use our template to help you conduct a health and safety audit in your school and identify corrective actions to keep your school safe.

Last reviewed on 10 November 2025See updates
School types: AllSchool phases: AllRef: 8706
Contents
  1. Download our template
  2. Clarify your requirements with your LA or trust board
  3. Risk assessments
  4. Checklists for classrooms
  5. Get training to make sure you're able to do the job well
  6. Use our courses to help you meet your health and safety requirements

Download our template

KeyDoc: health and safety audit DOCX, 168.5 KB
Download

It contains a list of questions relating to health and safety in schools, with space for you to record comments and actions to take alongside each question. The audit covers topics such as:

  • Accident reporting
  • External areas and access arrangements
  • Vehicles
  • Security
  • Trips and visits
  • Work experience

You should review your health and safety policy at least annually, and following any health and safety-related incident.

For more information see the DfE's health and safety duties for schools (section 13).

Clarify your requirements with your LA or trust board

If you're a maintained school, your local authority (LA) may set health and safety requirements for you. If you're an academy, make sure you're following any requirements set by your trust board. 

These could include specific audit requirements, so check with them before you start.

Risk assessments

Use our generic template for risk assessments and find further guidance and resources to help you.

See health