The Education Compliance Framework
A sector-specific framework that gives schools, colleges, and trusts the structure, guidance, and system support they need to keep compliance clear, manageable, and audit-ready.
What is the Education Compliance Framework?
The Education Compliance Framework is a comprehensive model covering every statutory, best practice, and planned preventative maintenance (PPM) task in education. It combines a schedule of 700+ activities with a complete library of guidance documents — showing staff not just what needs doing, but how to do it right.
Developed specifically for schools, colleges, and multi-academy trusts, it ensures nothing is missed and everything is explained in plain English.
5 Sub schedules
Align compliance with the way schools and colleges actually operate, making tasks easier to assign and complete
37 Compliance Categories
From fire safety to curriculum spaces, every compliance area is covered
700+ tasks covered
Comprehensive coverage across all compliance areas
Schedule
700+ compliance activities
Guidance
Complete how-to library
Confidence
Audit-ready compliance
Complete Coverage Across Five Sub-Schedules
The Framework is divided into five sub-schedules. Together, they cover 700+ compliance activities across every part of a school, college, or trust.
- Fire Safety – risk assessments, alarms, extinguishers, fire doors, evacuation drills
- Electrical Safety – fixed wiring inspections, PAT testing, emergency lighting
- Gas Safety – appliance servicing, gas interlock systems, pipework checks
- Water Hygiene – legionella risk assessments, temperature monitoring, tank inspections
- Asbestos Management – surveys, registers, re-inspections, management plans
- Pressure Systems – statutory examinations of boilers, vessels, compressors
- Lifting Equipment & LOLER – hoists, lifts, statutory inspections
- Work Equipment & PUWER – tools, machinery, guarding, maintenance checks
- Air Handling & Ventilation – filter changes, ductwork cleaning, TM44 inspections
- Control & Monitoring Systems – BMS reviews, automated control checks
- Fabric & Decoration – condition surveys, redecoration, floor and ceiling checks
- Grounds & External Areas – fencing, pathways, playground surfaces, external lighting
- Doors & Access – fire exits, automatic doors, access control systems
- Security Systems – CCTV, intruder alarms, safeguarding access points
- Waste Management – general waste, recycling, hazardous waste, environmental compliance
- Catering – kitchen gas safety, ventilation, food safety management systems
- PE, Gym & Playground Equipment – inspections of sports halls, climbing frames, play equipment
- First Aid & Medical – first aid kits, defibrillators, medical room checks
- Contractor Management & Permits – induction, RAMS, permits to work
- Lettings & Community Use – hire procedures, safeguarding checks
- Transport & Vehicles – minibus MOTs, servicing, driver licence checks
- Digital Systems & Data Compliance – data protection, cyber security, IT system checks
- Science & Chemical Safety – COSHH, chemical storage, fume cupboards, lab safety
- Design & Technology – machine guarding, dust extraction, tool checks, COSHH
- Food Technology – food handling, storage, cleaning regimes, risk assessments
- Art & Ceramics – kilns, glazes, COSHH, specialist ventilation
- Drama & Theatre – lighting rigs, tallescopes, stage equipment, risk assessments
- Music – amplification, noise exposure, instrument and equipment safety
- General Curriculum – enrichment days, off-site visits, classroom safety checks
- Risk Assessments – whole-site, departmental, curriculum, contractors, pupils, SEND
- Safeguarding & Welfare – policies, DBS checks, safeguarding reviews
- Policy & Procedure Audits – H&S policy reviews, statutory updates, annual checks
- Statutory Compliance Registers – evidence logs, registers, audit trails
- Assurance & Reporting – governor reports, compliance dashboards, external audits
More Than a Checklist: The Guidance Library
The guidance library is what makes the Framework practical. For every task, a tailored guidance document explains:
Legal Basis
Clear explanation of the legal or best practice foundation for each task
Steps
Detailed, practical steps to complete each activity correctly
Education Context
Tailored guidance specific to schools, colleges, and trusts
Evidence
Clear requirements for documentation and audit trails
This transforms the Framework into a practical handbook for compliance in education. Staff aren't just told what to do — they're shown how to do it right.
"The Framework gave us total confidence that nothing had been missed at any of our diverse sites. From statutory safety checks to departmental compliance, everything was structured, clear, and auditable. The implementation process was refreshingly straightforward. Compliance Pod's team did all the heavy lifting - building, configuring, and testing the system — while our team simply reviewed and approved. Within weeks, we were live and confident."
Lisa Maynard, Estates Director, Dukes Education
Implementing the Education Compliance Framework with Compliance Pod
The Education Compliance Framework gives you the structure; Compliance Pod turns it into action. What makes the process different is that our team do most of the heavy lifting. We work with you to benchmark your current arrangements, build tailored schedules, and provide expert guidance and support at every stage. The result is a practical, sector-specific approach to compliance that's easy to adopt and straightforward to manage.
Review & Benchmark
We start by comparing your current arrangements with the Framework, identifying statutory gaps and opportunities to streamline.
Tailor the Schedule
From the master list of tasks, we build an organisation-level schedule in Compliance Pod that reflects your estate, curriculum spaces, and priorities.
Deploy to Sites
Tasks are cascaded to each campus and building, with responsibilities assigned to staff or contractors and tracked centrally in the system.
Guidance & Training
Every task in Compliance Pod links to plain-English guidance, ensuring staff understand what to do, why it matters, and how to evidence completion.
Integration & Workflow
Compliance Pod schedules tasks, sends reminders, logs completions, and stores evidence alongside your helpdesk, contractor, and reporting functions.
Continuous Updates & Assurance
As legislation and best practice change, the Framework is updated and Compliance Pod automatically notifies you and adjusts your schedules. Leaders gain real-time oversight and a clear audit trail.
The result is a complete compliance solution: a trusted framework underpinned by technology, delivered with hands-on expert support that makes implementation simple.
Benefits of the Framework
Clarity
Clear guidance for every task
Assurance
Full coverage of statutory and best practice activities
Efficiency
Grouped and scheduled to reduce admin
Audit Ready
Easy reporting and evidence for inspectors
Confidence
Continuously updated to reflect sector changes
Always Current, Always Reliable
Compliance never stands still. We monitor legislation, statutory guidance, and sector best practice. When requirements change, the Framework is updated — and Compliance Pod customers are notified and supported to implement them.