2025 Maintained Schools Governance Guide: a summary
A summary of the DfE's latest guidance and main source of governance information for maintained schools.
The Department for Education (DfE) maintained schools governance guide brings together information from a range of sources on the governing body’s role in relation to legislative and contractual requirements as well as governance best practice in schools.
All governors should be made aware of the governance guide during their induction and refer to it as needed.
Download our briefing to learn about key changes to the 2025 maintained schools governance guide.
Member-only content
Want to read this?
Become a member
NGA members get exclusive access to hundreds of practical resources including guidance, checklists and planners.
We’re here to support you at every stage of your governance journey with expert advice, training, events, and much more.
Already a member?
Related content
-
Guidance
![school-environment unorganised classroom desk]()
-
Guidance
![two people exchanging documents in a meeting]()
-
Guidance
![people looking over the documents from a meeting]()
-
Tools & templates
![tools-resources someone typing on a laptop]()
-
Guidance
![training group of sitting people celebrating]()
-
Guidance
![tools-resources man pointing at paper woman writing on different paper]()
-
Guidance
![tools-resources two individuals checking over a document]()
Updated: 20/11/2024Finance & resourcesCompleting the school resource management self-assessment checklist
-
Guidance
![Pupils-learning pupils doing arts and crafts with the teacher]()
Updated: 08/11/2024Equality, diversity & inclusionEquality and diversity: a guide for governing boards
-
Guidance
![training man and woman working from same laptop]()
-
Guidance
![tools-resources someone checking over a document holding their pen]()
-
Guidance
![Decorative]()
-
Guidance
![man with his hands clenched together sitting at a meeting]()
-
Guidance
![training small class writing notes]()
-
Tools & templates
![training three people in discussion at table]()
-
Guidance
![tools-resources two people holding and reading the same piece of paper]()
-
E-learning
![]()
-
E-learning
![]()
-
E-learning
![]()
-
E-learning
![]()
-
E-learning
![]()
-
Training & development
![people looking at documents and making notes during a meeting]()
-
E-learning
![]()
-
E-learning
![]()
-
E-learning
![]()
-
E-learning
![]()
-
E-learning
![]()
-
E-learning
![]()
-
Blog
![]()
-
Blog
![]()
Updated: 16/10/2025Ofsted inspectionThree key topics governors and trustees are talking about this term
-
Blog
![]()
Updated: 02/10/2025Governing board evaluationMeet the Experts: Rosemary Lovatt on Driving Great Governance
-
Blog
![]()
-
Blog
![]()
-
News
![]()
Updated: 10/07/2025Latest updatesAnnual Governance Survey 2025: School Finances and SEND System at Breaking Point
-
Webinar
![tools-resources two individuals checking over a document]()
12/06/202512:30 - 13:15Compliance & legislationParental complaints - Key issues, common pitfalls and practical solutions
-
Blog
![]()
Updated: 22/05/2025Governing board rolesFrom lockdown to leadership: my journey as a school governor
-
Blog
![a picture of Uk schoolchildren reading outside by a school in summer]()
-
Webinar
![]()
12/03/202512:30 - 13:15ZoomCompliance & legislationSchool exclusions: compliance and best practice for governing boards
-
Blog
![]()
-
Blog
![]()
-
News
![]()
Updated: 17/12/2024Latest updatesNGA Comments on the Publication of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
-
News
![]()
Updated: 04/11/2024WellbeingNGA launches Free E-Learning Module on School Food Standards – In Partnership with DfE
-
Blog
![]()
