Section 175 Audit 2026-27
What is Section 11/ 175?
The Section 175 Audit is a statutory requirement under the Education Act 2002, designed to ensure that educational settings are fulfilling their safeguarding duties. Completing this audit helps demonstrate compliance with legislation, identify areas for improvement, and strengthen the safeguarding culture within your setting.
As the Designated Safeguarding Lead, your role is central to this process. The audit provides an opportunity to review policies, procedures, and practice, ensuring that children and young people are protected and staff members are confident in their responsibilities. It also supports accountability to the governing body and the local authority.
What Does Safeguarding and Promoting the Welfare of Children Mean?
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children means (KCSIE2025):
- Protecting from maltreatment, whether that is within or outside the harm, including online
- Preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development
- Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes
- Children grow up in circumstances consistent with provision of safe & effective care
- Providing help and support to meet the needs of children as soon as problems emerge
What is the responsibility of schools/education settings?
Section 175 of the Education Act 2002 places a duty on local authorities (in relation to their education functions and governing bodies of maintained schools and further education institutions, which include sixth-form colleges) to exercise their functions with a view to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children who are pupils at a school, or who are students under 18 years of age attending further education institutions. The same duty applies to independent schools (which include Academies and free schools) by virtue of regulations made under Section 157 of the same Act.
New Section 175 Model for 2026-27
This year, the Section 175 audit will be completed in one excel workbook which you can request by contacting [email protected]
Tips for Completing the Audit
Gather evidence – ensure you have access to key documents such as your safeguarding policy, training records, and the single central record. Keep evidence references short and practical. For example: Child Protection Policy Sept 2026’. ‘Governor safeguarding report Summer 2. ‘SCR checked 14/09/26’. ‘Staff training log’. ‘CPOMS chronology’. Use hyper-links to signpost to data location.
Complete each section thoroughly – provide accurate information for all questions. Where evidence is requested, include clear references or upload supporting documents.
Identify & record actions – if any gaps or areas for development are identified, note them in the action plan section with responsible persons and deadlines.
Submit by the deadline – ensure the completed audit is submitted to the local authority by the end of September (annually).
Retain a copy – keep a copy for your records and share with your governing body for oversight.
Audit Data Sheet
The data sheet forms part of the Section 175 Audit and is designed to align with the multi-agency safeguarding dataset currently used by Wirral Local Authority and across the North West region. This ensures consistency in reporting and supports effective partnership working.
Please note:
- Only enter data in the columns marked with an arrow (→)
- These columns require your input and correspond to key safeguarding indicators.
- Do not edit other columns.
- All other column values will be automatically calculated based on the data you provide.
User Guide
There are clear instructions within tab 2 of the Workbook, we have also created a short user guide.
Please find a user guide below:
Please find a 1 page summary guide below:
Deadline
The deadline for completed workbooks to be returned is 30th September 2026.
Please e-mail a copy of your workbook to: [email protected]
Help & Support
If you require any help and support with your audit, please contact [email protected]