Instrument of government

The constitution of all governing bodies must be set out in its instrument of government (‘the instrument’). Find out how to manage the process of creating or amending an instrument in the guidance for governing bodies of maintained schools. Where relevant, amendments to the instrument of government must be approved by foundation governors and may require consent from the religious authority for the school, for example the diocese. Read The School Governance (Constitution) (England) Regulations 2012, part 5 for more information.

they must make the instrument of government in the form of the draft or (as the case may be) in the form of the revised draft. (4) If neither of sub-paragraphs (a) or (b) of paragraph (3) applies in the case of a school which does not have foundation governors, the local authority must— (a)inform the governing body of the reasons why they are not content with the draft instrument of government, and

29.—(1) The governing body must prepare a draft of the instrument of government and submit it to the local authority. (2) Where the school has foundation governors, the governing body must not submit the draft to the local authority unless it has been approved by— (a)the foundation governors; (b)the trustees of any foundation relating to the school; (c)in the case of a Church of England school or Roman Catholic Church school, the appropriate diocesan authority; and (d)in the case of any other school designated under section 69(3) of SSFA 1998 as having a religious character, the appropriate religious body. (3) On receiving the draft, the local authority must consider whether it complies with all applicable legislative provisions, and if— (a)they are content that the draft so complies, or (b)there is agreement between the local authority, the governing body and (if the school has foundation governors) the persons listed in paragraph (2) that the draft should be revised to any extent, and the local authority are content that the revised draft complies with all applicable legislative provisions, they must make the instrument of government in the form of the draft or (as the case may be) in the form of the revised draft. (4) If neither of sub-paragraphs (a) or (b) of paragraph (3) applies in the case of a school which does not have foundation governors, the local authority must— (a)inform the governing body of the reasons why they are not content with the draft instrument of government, and (b)give the governing body a reasonable opportunity to reach agreement with them on revising the draft, and must make the instrument of government either in the form of a revised draft agreed between them and the governing body or (in the absence of such agreement) in such form as they think fit having regard, in particular, to the category of school to which the school belongs and, where the school has a foundation, to the school’s relationship with its foundation as specified in accordance with regulation 28(1)(b). Modifications etc. (not altering text)