Free audit tool · Twelve questions

An audit return tells you afterwards. A readiness check tells you now.

Many boards first learn that governor training or another basic is “partially met” when the audit return comes back. Twelve questions, ten minutes, a clear picture of the statutory floor and a prioritised action plan. Free, no sign-up.

Start the Readiness Check ↓ How it works ↓

How It Works

Four steps. One clear picture.

Start the check

No login, no email

Rate each basic

Secure, Developing or Not in Place

See your readiness

A score out of 12 with a clear verdict

Download action plan

Prioritised DOCX

Your data stays on your device. Nothing is sent to a server until you download.

The Readiness Check

Twelve questions before the audit asks them.

Each question covers one statutory basic that the annual safeguarding audit your local authority runs (under Sections 175 and 157 of the Education Act 2002) expects a board to evidence. The descriptors under each question show what secure and developing look like. Rate where your board stands. Your answers stay in this browser.

Your Results

0out of 12

The record is in place. The next step is turning it into a culture: the free Beyond the Certificate safeguarding culture pack gives your board the five artefacts to do it.

Secure

Developing

Not in Place

The annual safeguarding audit your local authority runs (under Sections 175 and 157 of the Education Act 2002) asks boards to evidence these basics. Items below Secure are where returns usually come back “partially met”.

Question breakdown

Download your Action Plan

Get a Word document with your results, the priority actions and what “secure” looks like for each basic. Share it with your chair, clerk or governance lead.

Already an SGAF member? Save this result to your school’s portal so the board can track its safeguarding readiness over time.

Save to your portal →

The readiness check covers safeguarding. Membership applies the same shape to every governance function.

One assurance pattern across the whole of governance: structured visits, statutory compliance, meeting agendas, Headteacher reports and board intelligence, each one ending in evidence the board can stand behind. From £229 per school per year.

Governor visit records ready to file as evidence

Statutory compliance tracked term by term

Meeting agendas and minutes with challenge recorded

Board-level reports across every function

See SGAF Membership →

Sources and statutory grounding

Keeping Children Safe in Education · gov.uk · statutory safeguarding guidance for schools and colleges; the floor this check is built on.
Sections 175 and 157, Education Act 2002 · Section 175 · Section 157 · the duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, and the basis of the annual local authority audit.
DfE filtering and monitoring standards · gov.uk · the standards boards review filtering and monitoring arrangements against each year.
DfE Governance Guides · maintained schools · academy trusts · the DfE’s core reference on the governing board’s role, including safeguarding oversight.

This self-assessment supports preparation for your local authority’s safeguarding audit. It does not replace that audit, your safeguarding policy or statutory training.