Whistle-blowing policy: model and examples
Be clear about the requirements for a whistle-blowing policy in your school or trust, and get guidance on what to include. Download and adapt our model policy to fit your trust's context, and see examples of policies from other schools.
- Trusts: download and adapt our model policy
- Academies must have whistle-blowing procedures
- Maintained schools: use your local authority (LA)'s procedures
- See examples of whistle-blowing policies
Trusts: download and adapt our model policy
Not all complaints about the school/trust fall under whistle-blowing
You might be better off looking at our:
Adapt our template with your own procedures and scheme of delegation.
This model policy has been approved by Forbes Solicitors, to take account of relevant requirements and good practice, and to help you stay compliant.
There's no statutory requirement for how often you need to review this policy, so it's up to you to decide.
We recommend setting this as a trust-wide policy, with no local amendments by schools, because this should be a procedure that's consistent across your whole trust.
If you're unsure about whether to centralise or delegate certain policies, use our guidance to support your approach.
Academies must have whistle-blowing procedures
Your trust must have whistle-blowing procedures to protect staff who report individuals they believe are doing something wrong or illegal.
These procedures must be agreed by the trustees and published online.
Your trust should appoint at least 1 trustee and 1 member of staff who other staff can contact to report concerns.
We recommended academies use their trust's whistle-blowing policy to maintain consistency across the trust.
Your trust must also:
- Make sure all staff are aware of the procedures and how concerns will be managed
- Make sure all concerns are responded to in a fair and proper way
Staff should know:
- What protection is available to them if they report someone
- What areas of malpractice or wrongdoing are covered by the whistle-blowing procedures
- Who they can approach to report a concern
This is set out in the Academy Trust Handbook (paragraphs 2.40 to 2.44).
Maintained schools: use your local authority (LA)'s procedures
If you're a maintained school leader, you should also have whistle-blowing procedures, as set out in Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), paragraph 75.
Ask your LA for a copy of its whistle-blowing arrangements and tailor them to fit your school’s circumstances.
Read more about developing your whistle-blowing procedures in the DfE's guidance for maintained schools.
You can also use our model policy as a useful reference.
See examples of whistle-blowing policies
MATs:
Academies:
- Kingsdale Foundation School, under 'Key school policies'
- All Saints Catholic College
