Guidance

Barring unsuitable individuals from managing independent schools

Prohibiting unsuitable people from managing independent schools, academies and free schools or governing a local-authority-maintained school.

• From: Department for Education
• Published: 28 July 2021
• Last updated: 8 June 2022 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Prohibiting unsuitable individuals from managing independent schools

PDF, 682 KB, 26 pages

Details

This guidance is for:

• proprietors, governing bodies, senior leaders, and school staff of independent schools, academies and free schools
• individuals issued with a notice or a direction under section 128

The guidance outlines:

• the section 128 legislation that prohibits or restricts an individual managing an independent educational setting or governing a local-authority maintained school
• how to assess and consider if someone is unsuitable
• how to report someone as unsuitable to manage an independent school, academy or free school

The Education Secretary can prohibit or restrict an individual from taking part in the management of independent school under section 128 of the Education and Skills Act 2008.

Governors of local-authority-maintained schools may find this useful to read alongside the governance handbook.

Published 28 July 2021
Last updated 8 June 2022 + show all updates

1. 8 June 2022

   Document update: page 15 contact details updated for any referral to the department or to send in any section 128 related questions.

2. 28 July 2021

   First published.