Gifts and hospitality policy: model and examples

Adapt our model gifts and hospitality policy, and find examples from a school and a trust to help you write yours.

Last reviewed on 9 June 2026See updates
Ref: 41537
Statutory/mandatory for:
Academies
Free schools
Contents
  1. Download our model policy
  2. Is it a statutory policy?
  3. Considerations when writing your gifts and hospitality policy
  4. See examples of policies

Download our model policy

Adapt it to suit your school’s context. 

It has been approved by Forbes Solicitors and includes a gifts and hospitality register:

Model policy: gifts and hospitality DOCX, 212.8 KB
Download

Is it a statutory policy?

Academies and free schools: we've marked this policy as 'statutory' for academies and free schools in our Policy expert service, because the Academy Trust Handbook (paragraph 5.31) says that academy trusts should have a policy and register on the acceptance of gifts that might be seen to compromise their judgement or integrity.

We recommend you have one. If your school is part of a MAT, it's likely your trust will set this policy centrally.

The DfE also recommends you have a fraud policy and response plan to deal with allegations of financial irregularity, which could involve the offer or acceptance of inappropriate gifts or hospitality. 

Maintained schools: this policy is not statutory – however, you should check if your LA's scheme for financing school specifies that you should have one.