This statutory guidance should be read and followed by:
- Governing bodies of maintained schools (including maintained nursery schools) and colleges
- Proprietors of independent schools (including academies, free schools and alternative provision academies) and non-maintained special schools. In the case of academies, free schools and alternative provision academies, the proprietor will be the academy trust
- Management committees of pupil referral units (PRUs).
The above persons should ensure that all staff in their school or college read at least Part one of this guidance, The above persons should ensure that mechanisms are in place to assist staff to understand and discharge their role and responsibilities as set out in Part one of this guidance.
It relates to:
- Maintained schools and colleges
- Independent schools
- Academies and Free schools
- Alternative provision Academies and Free schools
- Pupil Referral Units
- Further Education colleges
- Sixth-form colleges
It sets out what schools and colleges must do to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people under the age of 18.
Section 175 of the 2002 Education Act requires governing bodies to carry out an annual review of the school’s policies and procedures and to provide information to the Local Authority about how the duties set out in the guidance have been discharged. The purpose of the Section 175 audit is to provide evidence that all schools, including maintained, academies, independent or any who are registered with the Department for Education are fulfilling their statutory safeguarding responsibilities.
The Section 175 self-assessment audit has already taken place for 2023/24. If you were unable to submit your S175 audit through the survey link you can use the below form to undertake an audit for your own records:
S175 self assessment audit questionnaire