School audit summary reports

Each financial year, three audit themes are selected in consultation with Children’s Services to review the areas that are perceived as being of greatest risk to the School and Hertfordshire County Council. A sample of schools, including nursery schools, primary schools, education support centres and secondary schools will be visited during the course of the year and covering the various themes. The annual schools audit plan is approved for each financial year and may not line up entirely with the academic calendar.

The audit themes the current financial year can be found on the Audit Approach page.

Summary report themes

SFVS

To assess the effectiveness of controls in respect of the SFVS assurance areas, with a particular focus on financial management.

To be published April/May 2026

Safe Recruitment (2025/26)

To provide assurance that schools have effective and consistently applied safe recruitment and vetting processes that meet the requirements of Keeping Children Safe in Education (2025), ensuring that safeguarding is embedded throughout all stages of recruitment and pre‑employment checking.

To be published April/May 2026

Risk Management (2025/26)

To provide assurance that Schools sampled have robust risk management procedures in place and operate these in practice to identify, record and manage key risks that may impact on the delivery of key objectives. The audits also provide assurance on the schools approaches to obtaining insurance cover, ensuring this is sufficient to manage key risks identified.

To be published April/May 2026