School prospectus: updated checklist

The School Information (England) Amendment Regulations 2010 lay down that the governing body of a maintained school must publish a prospectus containing statutory information and such other information as they see fit.

The statutory information has been amended by the above regulations. Prospectuses should now contain a summary of each of the following in relation to the school:

• the curriculum policy for the school determined under regulation 8 of the 2000 regulations

• any other policy adopted by the governing body or the head with respect to the teaching given to pupils, including any policy for monitoring pupil progress

• any policy adopted by the governing body to support parents and to promote the engagement of parents in their child's learning and development

• the policy adopted by the governing body for meeting its duties under section 71 of the Race Relations Act 1976 regarding the elimination of unlawful racial discrimination and the promotion of race equality

• any policy adopted by the governing body under section 21(5) of the Equality Act 2002 for promoting community cohesion

• the policy adopted by the governing body for meeting its duties under section 317 of the Equality Act 1996 (duties of governing body in relation to pupils with special educational needs)

• the policy adopted by the governing body for meeting its duties under section 49A of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 regarding the elimination of unlawful discrimination and harassment of disabled persons, the promotion of equality, the need to take account of disabilities, the promotion of positive attitudes towards disabled persons and the need to encourage participation by disabled persons

• the policy adopted by the governing body for meeting its duties under section 76A of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 regarding the elimination of unlawful discrimination and the promotion of equality of opportunity between men and women

• the policy adopted by the governing body and the head for meeting their duties under section 70 of the SSFA 1998 (requirements relating to collective worship)

• any policy adopted by the governing body for providing support to looked after pupils

• the policy determined by the head under section 89 of the EIA 2006 (determination by head of behaviour policy) with respect to the behaviour of pupils at the school

• any policy adopted by the governing body for securing pupils' regular attendance

• any policy adopted by the governing body with respect to uniform and other items to be worn by pupils at the school

• any policy adopted by the governing body for identifying and making provision for gifted and talented pupils The prospectus should also contain information as to where, and by what means, a person is able to obtain further information about the policies and other matters referred to above.

Finally, it should state where, and how, a person is able to access sources of general information about the school, including information about the annual school achievement and attainment tables, published reports of recent school inspections and school open days.

It will be worth checking the existing prospectus against this check list.