Governors Services Info (2014)
The Educational Achievement Network have been working to share information on their work with school governors. Approaches across the region differ according to local situations. Here is a flavour of what Local Authorities are doing:
How to get and retain good governors?
– use networks to encourage applications from local business
– recruit senior staff and ex-employees
– elected members make recommendations
– people self nominate
– ran a Governors awareness week
– hold business breakfast to attract from specific skill sets
– work with Governors association
– up to date webpages and leaflets
– process in place to seek further information and interview candidates to see if they have appropriate skills, attitude and outlook
– retain governors by encouraging schools to offer expenses, and provide training and briefing sessions.
– award long service by gifts/certificates/civic receptions at 5/10/15 years
How do we define and audit good governance?
– use NCTL materials
– use NGA materials
– assess governance against Ofsted Leadership and Management criteria
– encourage Governing Bodies to undertake a self-review
– share information via clerking service to pick up issues quickly
– targeted approach at schools in “requires improvement” or where the governing body requires improvement according to Ofsted report
– use external evaluations of governance where required
– do not get involved in this routinely
– define a schedule of most vulnerable schools to audit
How to approach the re-constitution of Governors?
– briefing note prepared and circulated
– NGA skills audit tool identifies skills gaps
– copies of statutory guidance and documentation shared
– notified Legal of new workload coming through
How do you carry out Governor Training?
– do not get involved in this at all – we let the market develop in this area
– comprehensive training package available, at a cost – Sandwell, Solihull