Working Together 2026 lists the bodies covered by section 11: local authorities and district councils, NHS bodies including ICBs and GPs, the police, British Transport Police, the Probation Service, prisons and young offender institutions, secure training centres and youth offending teams (paragraph 258). They should have arrangements such as a clear line of accountability, a senior board-level safeguarding lead, and a culture of listening to children (paragraph 259).
Schools have their own statutory duties instead. Maintained schools are covered by section 175 of the Education Act 2002, and academies and independent schools by section 157 and the independent school standards (Working Together, paragraph 268 and footnote 35). KCSIE is the guidance schools must have regard to in carrying out those duties (Working Together, paragraph 270).
The confusion usually comes with audits. Safeguarding partnerships run "section 11 audits" for agencies covered by section 11, and many send schools a similar annual self-assessment, which may be called a section 11, section 175 or section 157 audit. Working Together says schools should respond to safeguarding audits requested by the local authority or safeguarding partners and report them to their governing body (paragraph 83). For schools, see section 175 audit.