Briefing Note for Headteachers and Admin Teams
From 1st August 2025 Governor Services will no longer track Governor DBS checks or complete Section Y on NEREO. These responsibilities now lie with individual schools, in line with statutory safeguarding expectations.
As a headteacher, it is essential you are aware of these changes and ensure that your administrative processes reflect the shift in responsibility. Please note many of our schools do this in house already!
Key Changes:
Governor Services will no longer:
- Monitor or track DBS applications for governors.
- Complete Section Y on NEREO.
Your school is now responsible for:
- Ensuring all required pre-appointment checks (including DBS) are completed.
- Completing Section Y during the governor application process on NEREO.
- Confirming appointments only when all checks are finalised.
- Ensuring all governors have a DBS and the details are added to your SCR.
What is Section Y?
Section Y appears as part of a new governor application on NEREO and must be completed by the school. It asks you to indicate which checks are required for the incoming governor.
Section Y Options:
When completing Section Y, you will be prompted to select which of the following checks need to be carried out:
1. ✅ Application type- Enhanced
2. ✅ Workforce- Children (unless you have over 18’s and you can select Child & Adult)
3. ✅ Barred list check required- No to both, governors are not in regulated activity with children and as part of Safer Recruitment you cannot ‘over check’ applicants
4. ✅ Vulnerable groups at applicants home address- No
5. ✅ Is Volunteer- Yes
6. ✅ Adult First check required- No
Ongoing Support from Governor Services:
Although we are no longer managing the checks or completing Section Y, your Governance Professional will continue to remind schools of the DBS application process as part of their termly governing board meetings. This will support compliance and help schools keep governance records up to date.
Action Required:
- Review and update your school’s internal procedures for governor appointments and safeguarding checks.
- Ensure that administrative staff are trained and aware of how to complete Section Y correctly on NEREO.
- Only appoint governors once all relevant checks have been completed and verified.
- Ensure all Governor DBS information is added to your SCR.
Thank you for your continued attention to safeguarding and governance. If you have any questions or would like to arrange support, please don’t hesitate to contact Vicki Evans, School Governance and Data Protection Manager.
