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School structures

Federations: a guide for governing boards

Learn about federations, why schools federate and how the federation process works.

Guidance
03/09/2026
training three people at a tablet discussing notes

A federation is a formal structure between two or more local authority maintained schools, with one governing body that is accountable for all schools in the federation.

There are many potential benefits of schools federating such as opportunities to collaborate, share expertise and resources, develop staff, strengthen leadership and secure long-term financial sustainability.

The decision to federate rests with the governing body and must follow a specified legal process.

The guide covers:

  • what a federation is and how it operates
  • potential reasons for federating
  • the process of federating
  • further governance considerations for federations

A template federation proposal document is also provided to support the consultation process.

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