School Policies and Procedures: An Introduction

School policies and procedures are the framework that keeps a school safe, fair and consistent. Understanding how policies work empowers you to keep you and your students safe and meet your professional duties. 

According to Gov.uk (opens in a new tab), there are at least 20 policies that maintained schools are legally required to publish (opens in a new tab). Many of these have to be updated on an annual basis (or when new guidance is published). As such, it’s not realistic for teachers to know all these policies in detail, but all teachers should know they exist and where to find them.

Key Takeaways

• School policies and procedures create safety, fairness and consistency across all areas of school life. Policies explain what must happen; procedures explain how to do it.

• Teachers must know key policies, especially safeguarding, behaviour, attendance, curriculum and health & safety.

• Following policies protects students and staff, and ensures compliance (legal and otherwise).

• Stay up to date - policies change regularly, and teachers are responsible for knowing current expectations.

What Are School Policies and Procedures?

A policy explains what must happen, whereas a procedure explains how it should happen. For example, a Safeguarding Policy outlines the school’s duty to protect children, while the Safeguarding Procedure explains, for example, how to report a concern and who to contact. 

Policies are usually developed by senior leaders and governors, based on statutory guidance from the Department for Education (DfE).

Why Do Schools Have Policies?

Policies exist to make schools safe, fair, legally-compliant and consistent. Here are some key reasons schools need policies:

• Safety: Protecting children and staff from harm through safeguarding, behaviour and health & safety frameworks. In a school setting, these policies are the most significant. Keeping students safe underpins everything schools do.

• Consistency: Ensuring every student is treated equally, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexuality etc.

• Accountability: Providing a transparent system for decision-making and professional conduct. All policies are published on the school’s website and, as such, are in the public domain.

• Legal compliance: Meeting statutory duties under UK law, such as the Children Act (1989). Note: There have been numerous updates to this Act, such as the December 2023 "Working Together to Safeguard Children" document. These various updates should have been incorporated into school policies too.

Overall, policies are a great touchstone - if you are not sure what to do in a certain situation, let the relevant policy guide you.

Key Policy Areas Teachers Should Know

While it’s unrealistic for every teacher to know every policy inside out, there are some key policies that teachers should digest thoroughly:

Safeguarding and Child Protection

This is the most critical area for all school staff. The Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy explains how to recognise, record and report concerns about a student’s welfare.

Teachers must follow the ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education (opens in a new tab)’ statutory guidance, which requires immediate reporting of any concern to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).
Knowing the correct procedure could, literally, save a child’s life. 

Top tip: If in doubt, report your concerns, even if they seem trivial. Sometimes a small change that you notice will turn out to be the tip of the iceberg.

Behaviour

Behaviour policies define how teachers manage conduct, reward positive behaviour and apply sanctions fairly. They typically include strategies for de-escalation, classroom routines, and the steps to take before referring issues up the chain of command. 

This policy will reflect your school’s behavioural ethos. For example, a restorative approach versus a zero tolerance approach. Following the school’s approach ensures fairness and supports evenhandedness across the school. In addition, if applied consistently, the policy will provide students with clarity, which should help improve whole-school behaviour.

Attendance and Punctuality

These policies outline how attendance and punctuality are recorded, what to do when a student is absent, and how the school responds to persistent non-attendance. 

Teachers play a key role by taking accurate registers and following up absenteeism. It’s worth bearing in mind that an unaccounted for student could represent a safeguarding issue - these two policies work hand in glove. As such, consistent attendance procedures also protect vulnerable students and support safeguarding.

Curriculum and Assessment

Curriculum policies set out what subjects are taught, how learning is sequenced, and how progress is measured. Assessment policies define marking expectations, feedback methods, and how data is reported to parents. Understanding this ensures teachers deliver learning that aligns with school and national standards.

Health and Safety

Health and Safety policies protect everyone. They cover trips, accident reporting, fire drills and classroom safety. Teachers must know the basic procedures for emergencies and how to report hazards. 

The policy will be based on the DfE guidance and Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (opens in a new tab) (and the various updates). Compliance isn’t optional - it’s a legal duty under UK workplace regulations. 

Top tip: Act proactively (e.g. if you see an object blocking a fire door, either remove it yourself or ask premises to do so).

How Policies Affect Your Daily Teaching Practice

Policies shape almost every decision a teacher makes. For example, when a student discloses abuse, the safeguarding policy dictates your exact next steps. 

Or, when a pupil refuses to follow instructions, the behaviour policy outlines the process to follow. Knowing the key policies allows you to act decisively and protect yourself professionally.

Where to Find and Access School Policies

As mentioned before, schools are legally required to publish most policies on their websites. This should be your first port of call if you need specific guidance or to clarify a certain point. In addition, updates are likely to be shared during INSET days (especially to the key policies outlined above). Some schools will also provide departments with printed copies of the most significant policies.

What Happens if Policies Are Not Followed?

Ignoring or misunderstanding policies can have serious consequences. For teachers, this might include:

• Disciplinary action for professional misconduct.

• Legal liability if a student is harmed due to negligence.

• Loss of trust from leadership, colleagues and parents.

For schools, failure to follow statutory policies can lead to Ofsted criticism, reputational damage or even legal action. Policies exist to protect you. Following them ensures you are covered if something goes wrong. And, as outlined above, they are key to protecting students too.

How to Stay Up to Date with Policies

Policies change, laws evolve and schools update documents annually. To stay informed:

• Revisit policies annually, especially after an INSET or safeguarding training.

• Read update briefings from senior leaders.

• Ask questions if something isn’t clear.

• If you move schools, don’t assume the policies are the same. Always familiarise yourself with the expectations of your new school.

Sometimes these changes will immediately and directly affect your professional practice. For example, if a school introduces a new dress code, you will need to act to support this change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to memorise all school policies?

No. But you should understand the key principles of each, especially your school’s safeguarding, behaviour, and health and safety policies.

What’s the difference between a school policy and a procedure?

A policy sets out what the school expects; a procedure explains how to meet that expectation in practice by providing clear step-by-step guidance.

How do school policies vary between schools?

Every school adapts policies to fit its context and ethos, but all must align with statutory guidance.

Can I be disciplined for not following a policy I didn’t know about?

Possibly. Teachers are expected to read and follow school policies. Take time to review all the documents shared with you. Ignorance is not an excuse. On saying that, honesty is key - if you make a mistake, speak to your line manager. Most things are fixable.

Final Thoughts

School policies are the foundation of safe, effective and ethical teaching. They are evolving documents that should align with the latest theories on best practice. Your understanding of the key policies will positively impact your professional practice.

References

• Gov.uk (opens in a new tab) - What maintained schools must or should publish online: (opens in a new tab)https://www.gov.uk/guidance/what-maintained-schools-must-publish-online (opens in a new tab) 

• Keeping children safe in education 2025 - Statutory guidance for schools and colleges: (opens in a new tab)https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68add931969253904d155860/Keeping_children_safe_in_education_from_1_September_2025.pdf (opens in a new tab)

• Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1974/37/contents (opens in a new tab)