1. Leadership must ensure that the school's curriculum policy is implemented effectively through appropriate plans and schemes of work which:
    • reflect the school's aims and ethos, and
    • encourage mutual trust and respect for other people, particularly those with protected characteristics25 (age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership), and
    • develop pupils' spiritual and moral knowledge and understanding
    • actively promote development of pupils' self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence.
  2. Leadership must ensure that all pupils' experience of the school's curriculum results from leaders' effective implementation of appropriate plans, schemes of work, and programmes of activities that are appropriate to pupils' needs in the following areas:
    • physical education
    • personal and health education
    so that all pupils have the opportunity to learn and make progress.
  3. Leadership must ensure that pupils receive either relationships education or relationships and sex education (as applicable)26 and the latest statutory guidance relating to relationships education, relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education27 as set out in the Standards and other relevant legislation is followed.
  4. Leaders and managers must promote good behaviour by pupils and ensure that the school has a written behaviour policy drawn up that, among other matters, sets out the sanctions to be adopted in the event of pupils' misbehaviour28. The behaviour policy should have regard to available guidance29.
  5. Leadership must ensure that the behaviour policy is understood by staff and pupils and is implemented fairly and consistently. If applicable, standards relating to promoting positive behaviour for boarders must be met.
  6. Leadership should ensure that any prefect system (or equivalent) gives prefects (or equivalent) appropriate specific duties and responsibilities that are appropriate for them. The NMS for boarding schools (which must be met in boarding provision) provide helpful principles for the proprietor, leaders and managers of all schools.
  7. Leadership must ensure that an effective anti-bullying strategy is in place which actively prevents and minimises bullying at the school. They should ensure that any instances of bullying are dealt with effectively, and staff help children to overcome the impact of bullying. All staff must be trained to recognise and deal with bullying.
  8. For pupils below compulsory school age30, leadership must ensure that pupils experience an appropriate programme of activities which promotes their personal, emotional and physical development.
  9. Leadership must ensure that the provision and maintenance of premises and accommodation, including suitable accommodation to provide for pupils’ medical and therapy needs, fulfils applicable standards to provide a safe physical environment for pupils, and that accommodation meets all applicable standards31. All applicable standards relating to provision for boarders’ health and wellbeing needs must be met.
  10. Leadership must ensure that pupils are properly supervised through appropriate deployment of school staff.
  11. Leadership must ensure that the school's admission and attendance register is maintained in accordance with the School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024.
  12. Leadership must ensure that relevant health and safety laws, including the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, are complied with, and that applicable standards relating to safe evacuation are met.
  13. Leadership must ensure that first aid is administered in a timely and competent manner.
  14. Leadership must ensure that good quality sleeping and living accommodation32 is provided for boarders, which meets the requirements of the relevant standards, and that provision for boarders' possessions33 meets the required standards.
  15. Where a boarding school provides food and drink for pupils, leadership must ensure that it meets the required standards, and that pupils with disabilities are provided with appropriate assistance to eat, in a manner which promotes dignity and choice34.