The seven principles, which were established by Lord Nolan in 1995, are: to act selflessly, with integrity, objectively, to be accountable, open and honest, and to demonstrate leadership skills.
The four-page document sets out the key tenets that a successful governing board must have, including a commitment to asking challenging questions and an understanding of their role and responsibilities. Likewise, it details how headteachers should approach their liaisons with governors, including a willingness to be challenged and time to devote to developing professional relationships.
The document has been issued jointly by the Association of School and College Leaders, the National Association of Head Teachers, the Local Government Association, and the National Governors' Association.
It urges governing boards to carry out a skills audit of their governors and trustees to identify "skills gaps" and to commit to CPD for governors.
It advises on issues such as the recruitment and induction of new governors, size and composition, headteacher appraisals, as well as understanding attainment data, school self-evaluation and Ofsted visits.
On codes of conduct, the advice urges governing boards to ensure one is in place and is signed by all trustees and governors. The code should, it says, promote the seven Nolan principles of public life.
It states: "This code should set out any expectations on confidentiality of sensitive or personal information and include a commitment to the seven principles of public life. Governors and trustees should do their best to avoid conflicts of interest, and must declare any which exist. Unless there are exceptional circumstances, it is not considered good practice to govern on more than two boards."
What governing boards should expect from school leaders and what school leaders should expect from governing boards can be accessed via http://bit.ly/1DPLdZ8