Policies for Schools

Schools and Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) are complex learning environments involving multiple functions and roles. These education providers are almost like second homes for children and young adults where they learn, grow and transform into well-rounded individuals. Keeping these learning environments safe and supportive requires a range of policies and procedures for schools and MATs.

School policies formally document a school's values and procedures, covering all aspects of school life. Policies and procedures for schools and MATs are written with defined purposes and for a variety of audiences. 

Keystone Knowledge is a renowned name in education and understands the different types of UK schools’ policies and their purposes. Our services include offering bespoke guidance to schools and trusts in policy-related matters, contributing to sustainable MAT Growth. 

Schools and MATs write policies for various audiences, including students, staff, parents, and governors. With a defined school policy in place, you ensure the said values are consistently applied, expectations are defined, and a support system is in place for all key stakeholders.

The core purposes of creating school policies are:

• To clearly communicate your school or MAT’s core values to staff, parents, governors and other related stakeholders and bodies, like Ofsted
• To create a safe and supportive environment for pupils and staff
• To ensure the smooth running of your school or MAT’s operations by defining the school’s rules, regulations and procedures
• To guide staff in carrying out their duties and responsibilities effectively
• To attract prospective parents, pupils, staff and governors to your school or MAT
• To ensure a consistent way of everyday school life

Take your audience into account whenever updating or developing any policies for schools. It could be written for students, teachers, administrators, support staff or parents. Policies and procedures for schools should be written in such a way that the target audience clearly understands what is being asked of it or directed. Avoid using jargon and delete any ambiguous statements that could result in confusion and misinterpretation.

The actual drafting of the school policy recommendations can be delegated to any member of the staff post-approval regarding each policy’s specifications. For example, curriculum policies are often written by those responsible for that part of the curriculum. First, a rough draft is created by the principal, school administrator or head teacher. Following its approval, the review committee will discuss this with key stakeholder representatives, including parents, teachers, and administrators. The policy is then sent to the board for approval, after which it is added to the handbook.

You can group specific school policies together, such as PSHE and British Values and have separate handbooks for staff, parents, and employees with the relevant documents.

During policy development, plan how your policies can be easily accessible to your audience. Consider different options, keeping in mind the ease and accessibility of your audience. For instance, provide paper copies for those without printers or internet access and make translated materials available. Also, good communication practices should be followed to make policy communication dyslexic-friendly. Some school policies mandatorily need to be published on the school website to enable parents and other people, such as prospective employees, to have quick access to such information.

Entrust a team to manage policy implementation. You may need to first train your staff to enforce the proper procedures so they’re aligned with the school’s culture and ethos. Only when policy and its objectives are effectively implemented can they translate into concrete education changes in schools and MATs.

Schools and MATs need to review their policies regularly to ensure they stay compliant with current education regulations and requirements. It’s important to include when the policy was written and when it’s due for review.

In summary, policies and procedures in schools and MATs need to be accurate for the audience, easily accessible, informative and reviewed regularly. 

Keeping up with the long list of curriculum, discretionary, and statutory policies for schools and academy trusts can be a daunting task. Drafting various mandatory and optional lists of policies in UK schools can seem overwhelming when juggling day-to-day operations. This necessary task is best left to education sector experts, like Keystone Knowledge.

Our sole focus is on the UK’s education sector, offering comprehensive insights and solutions tailored to the needs of schools and MATs across the UK. Our education experts have held leadership roles in schools, experiencing the ups and downs associated with the sector. Their experience means they offer sound guidance in navigating the complexities of school leadership, governance, and compliance.