School Website Compliance Checklist: DfE Requirements Explained

When an approved policy changes, use the guide to keeping your school website current after policy updates to connect the change with publication and a live version check.

A clear school website is more than a communications channel. For maintained schools and academies in England, it is also a public record of required information. This DfE website compliance checklist helps the headteacher and governing board spot missing pages, out-of-date files and unclear ownership before they become a larger governance issue.

DfE guidance is different for maintained schools and academies, so begin by confirming the school's status. This checklist is a practical self-audit tool, not legal advice. Keep a dated record of the review, the evidence checked and the action agreed for each possible gap, and check the current DfE guidance whenever the list is reviewed.

This guide covers primary, secondary and all-through schools using DfE guidance for England. Schools in other UK nations should check their own national requirements. Use the school website compliance hub to connect this checklist with the audit process and wider governance evidence.

Start with the right checklist and evidence record

Use the DfE guidance for maintained schools if the school is maintained by an LA. Academy trusts and academies should use the separate DfE guidance for academies, together with their funding agreement and trust-level publication duties. The two lists overlap, but they are not identical.

Create one audit record with columns for the item, webpage or document link, last review date, document owner, reviewer, status and next action. A screenshot or saved PDF of the live page provides a simple evidence record. It also helps the governing board see whether a link worked on the date it was checked.

Do not treat the website as a task for one person alone. The headteacher can coordinate content, while the clerk to governors, school business manager (SBM), SENCO and safeguarding lead confirm the material in their area. Governors should receive a concise summary of completion, exceptions and target dates.

Apply the checklist to the school’s phase

Most DfE website publication duties are shared across school phases. The more important distinction is whether a school is maintained or an academy, because the source and detail of some duties differ. Start with the correct DfE list for the school's legal status, then check the items that apply to its age range, funding and provision.

For a primary school with key stage 1 provision, the curriculum check should cover the phonics or reading schemes it uses. DfE guidance for maintained schools says these schemes must be published; DfE guidance for academies says academies should publish them where applicable. A primary school receiving PE and sport premium should also keep the required funding, spending, impact, sustainability and year 6 swimming information current, using the latest primary PE and sport premium guidance.

Admissions information should match the school's role as an admission authority and the relevant age group, including reception entry information where applicable. Do not add secondary-only material such as key stage 4 courses when the school has no such provision. An all-through school should instead check every phase it serves and check secondary curriculum and careers information where applicable.

Check governance information and accountability

Start with information that explains who is responsible for the school. Maintained schools should review the structure and remit of the governing board and its committees, names of chairs, membership and any information required about governors. Make it easy for families to find the contact route for the chair and the person handling public enquiries.

Academy publication duties also need a trust-level check. Review whether the trust website has the funding agreement, articles of association, members and trustees, governance arrangements, committee structure, interests and attendance information in a readily accessible place. The scheme of delegation should make clear which decisions sit with trustees, local governing bodies and school leaders.

For maintained schools and academies, confirm that key contact details are current. Include the school address, telephone number, headteacher name and the appropriate contact for enquiries. A dated governance page supports a clear scrutiny trail when roles or committee terms change.

Review financial information by school type

Financial information is often spread across several pages. Maintained schools should check the required financial disclosures, relevant pay information, benchmarking link and any local requirements. Where applicable, ensure that funding pages name the allocation, explain intended use and show the impact or review approach required by DfE guidance.

Schools receiving pupil premium should check that the strategy statement is published by the required date and reflects the current cycle. Primary schools that receive PE and sport premium should also review their publication against the current DfE expectations. The page should make it simple to find the latest statement rather than leaving old versions as the main result.

SFVS is for maintained schools only; it does not apply to academies. A maintained school can record the governing board's SFVS review and approval trail within its governance evidence. Academy trusts should instead review relevant website duties under the Academies Financial Handbook and their funding agreement, including trust-level accounts and governance information.

Make safeguarding information easy to find

Safeguarding information needs a prominent, simple route from the homepage or a clear safeguarding page. Check that the safeguarding policy is the approved current version, carries a review date and identifies the DSL and Deputy DSL (DDSL) arrangements. A generic inbox is useful, but it should not replace clear safeguarding contacts and reporting routes.

The policy should be reviewed against the current version of KCSIE, including Part 2 of KCSIE where relevant to governing board responsibilities. Also check that online safety is addressed through the school's policy set and that any supporting guidance is current. Avoid publishing personal information that is not needed for families to contact the school.

A short safeguarding page can link to the policy, contact details, online safety material and local support information. The safeguarding link governor can test whether the journey is clear to a parent using a phone. Record the test date and any accessibility or broken-link issue in the audit log.

Confirm curriculum, SEND and parent information

The curriculum section should state the content taught in each academic year and subject, including required information about religious education and the right to withdraw where applicable. It should explain how a parent can find out more. Schools with relevant phases should also check items such as reading schemes, key stage 4 courses, careers information and performance information against current DfE guidance.

Review the SEND information report, SEND policy and SENCO details together. These documents should agree on names, contact routes and review dates. Check the accessibility plan is published and reflects the school's current approach to increasing participation and access over time.

The complaints procedure, admissions information, behaviour policy and charging and remissions policies need the same care. Use the correct route for the school type and admissions authority. A live link to the appropriate LA or trust page may be needed, but test it rather than assuming it remains current.

Finish with policies, publishing standards and board review

Make a policy index so a visitor can find statutory policies without searching through news posts. For each policy, record the approval date, review cycle, version history and owner assignment. Remove duplicated superseded versions or clearly label them as archived, so families and staff do not rely on an old document.

Finally, test the website as a visitor would. Check mobile display, document downloads, page titles, links and the accessibility of PDFs. Inspectors may ask how the governing board knows that statutory website obligations are monitored, so retain the audit record, board report and minutes showing challenge or approval.

A termly light-touch check, supported by a fuller annual review, keeps the work manageable. Link website checks to your school governance calendar, file evidence in a governance evidence log, and use your wider inspection-readiness plan to track the next action.

Edvance helps governing boards and trust leaders track governance obligations, evidence compliance, and stay inspection-ready year-round. Explore Edvance for UK schools.

Frequently Asked Questions

What must a school publish on its website?

The required information depends on whether the school is maintained or an academy, and current DfE guidance should be checked for the complete list. A publication register helps connect each live page or document to its approved source, owner, and review date.

Who is responsible for school website compliance?

The headteacher normally coordinates the process, with policy owners and website administrators updating content and governors overseeing publication duties. Responsibilities should be named so that a possible gap has a clear suggested next action.

How often should a school website be reviewed?

A full review at least annually is sensible, with additional checks after policy approval, DfE guidance changes, and significant school updates. High-risk or time-sensitive items should be checked more frequently.

What evidence should a school keep after a website review?

The school should record the date checked, pages and documents reviewed, version or approval dates, broken or missing items, named owners, and completion dates. Screenshots or a dated export can strengthen the evidence record.

Does a primary school website need different information from a secondary school?

Most DfE publication duties are shared across phases, and the main checklist depends on whether the school is maintained or an academy. Primary schools should also check phase-relevant items such as KS1 phonics or reading schemes and, where they receive it, PE and sport premium information; secondary schools have different phase-specific items such as KS4 course information.