- Mandatory training for school staff
Be clear on the areas your staff need training in and how often to update their training. Use our template to keep track of any training that staff members complete and when they need to renew it.
- Checks for staff who have lived or worked overseas
You must make 'appropriate' further checks on staff who have lived or worked outside the UK. Find out how to mitigate risk early on in the process, assess risks with your candidates and what 'appropriate' further checks you can carry out.
- Behaviour policy: model and examples
Download and adapt our model behaviour policy, or if you prefer to write or review your own, use our checklist to make sure you're following requirements and good practice.
- Mobile phone policy: model and examples
Adapt our model mobile phone policy to suit your school, or use our checklist to help you write your own. See examples of policies from other schools on the use of mobile phones by pupils, staff, parents/carers, visitors and volunteers.
- SIAMS inspections: what you need to know
Get ready for your next SIAMS inspection under the 2023 framework and check you're clear on the relationship between these inspections and those conducted by Ofsted.
- Vaping: what schools need to know
More and more pupils are taking up vaping. Find out about the law, health risks and how to get everyone in your school community on the same page about the issue.
- Admissions policy: model and examples
Download and adapt our model admissions policy or use our admissions policy checklist, both of which meet the requirements of the School Admissions Code 2021. See example admissions policies from schools, trusts and a local authority.
- Data protection impact assessments: role of the DPO
As the DPO, you must be consulted when staff are carrying out a data protection impact assessment (DPIA). Understand when a DPIA is needed and learn about your role at each stage of the process. Plus, download and adapt our template DPIA enquiry form for staff to submit to you.
- Staff members: exit checklists
Download our checklists to be completed when a member of staff leaves your school. Find out what jobs need to be done by both the leaving staff member and by the school.
- Work scrutiny: writing (primary)
Find out what you need to consider when conducting a work scrutiny for writing. Use our template and questions to help you carry one out.
- School website: publishing information about the governing board
Understand what governing board information you're required to publish on your school website, and download our checklists for maintained schools and academies to make sure you haven't missed anything out.
- Conducting safe and well checks
Find out about home visits to check on pupils’ welfare, often known as safe and well checks or welfare checks. Understand your safeguarding responsibilities and which local agencies to liaise with.
- UK GDPR: make sure your suppliers are compliant
You must make sure that any third parties that process personal data for your school meet UK GDPR requirements. See the steps you'll need to take, and download our checklist for your provider contracts.
- Recruitment: your step-by-step guide
Keep on top of every stage in the recruitment process with links to our guidance and resources all in 1 place. Get to grips with everything from finding applicants and shortlisting candidates, to pre-employment checks and staff induction. Plus, see our tips for safer recruitment every step of the way.
- Staff induction: your step-by-step guide
Use our tips and checklist to plan effective staff induction so that new employees buy into your school's culture and settle into their role well.
- Health and safety audit: template and guidance
Use our template to help you conduct a health and safety audit in your school.
- How one 'outstanding' secondary school cut its marking workload by 75%: case study
Barr Beacon School cut down teachers' marking time to less than an hour a day by banning detailed written marking and improving the way staff give feedback to pupils. Read on and download this school's marking policy and other resources to learn how you can make this happen too.
- SEND Code of Practice: staff briefing
Use our 30 minute briefing to help your teachers and TAs understand their responsibilities under the SEND Code of Practice, including how to work with your SENCO, and how you provide SEN support in your school.
- School staff induction policy: examples
Compare your staff induction policy with examples from other primary, secondary and special schools.
- Deferring and pausing Ofsted inspections: guidance
You can ask for an Ofsted inspection to be deferred if you have concerns about your school's circumstances. Pausing an inspection might also be necessary, to protect your or your staff's wellbeing. Find out when and how you can make a request for a deferral or a pause.