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Ruth Agnew NLG Advocate and Governance Consultant and Andy Kent NLG Advocate and Lead Facilitator from Governors’ Network North West share their take on opportunities and challenges facing School Governors.
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#governorliveFebruary 27th 2014
Ruth Agnew NLG Advocate and Governance Consultant
Andy Kent NLG Advocate and Lead Facilitator, Governors’ Network North West
What’s new?
• Developing Ofsted Handbook• New Governors’ Handbook• New Non-statutory guidance • Consultation on further changes (for
maintained schools)• Approaches to academisation• What’s new at the National College?
What’s not new?
Training: A focus of the Select Committee Inquiry
“Too many governors have not had suitable training. The Government says this can be encouraged through Ofsted. Ofsted should report back in due course whether their intervention is effective. If it is not, mandatory training should be considered again. The Government should require schools to offer training to every new governor.”
School Inspection Handbook – January 2014
• the effectiveness of governance including how well governors: – ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic
direction– contribute to the school’s self-evaluation and
understand its strengths and weaknesses, including the impact of their own work
– support and strengthen school leadership, including by developing their own skills
“The education system is changing rapidly and school governance needs to change too to play its part. My ambition is that every school has a dynamic governing body. That means one that understands its responsibilities and is focused tightly on its core strategic functions. One that is no bigger than it needs to be with all governors actively contributing relevant skills and experience. One that operates efficiently and effectively through appropriate structures and procedures.”
GBs as non-executive leadership focused on enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the school / charitable company
The board
The localising influence
The vehicle for democracy
GBs as guardians of local vision that filter national policies and bring local knowledge to bear on what schools do
GBs as mechanisms for representing local people in decisions about the local delivery of education
Governors’ Handbook
“Governing bodies, not headteachers, should determine the scope and format of headteachers’ termly reports. This will mean that they receive the information they need in a format that enables them to stay focused on their core strategic functions and not get distracted or overwhelmed by information of secondary importance.”
Governors’ Handbook
“Through pre-arranged visits that have a clear focus, governors can see whether the school is implementing the policies and improvement plans they have signed off and how they are working in practice. Visits also provide an opportunity to talk with pupils, staff and parents to gather their views.”
Governors’ Handbook“Governors are not inspectors and it is not their
role to assess the quality or method of teaching or extent of learning. They are also not school managers and should make sure they do not interfere in the day-to-day running of the school. Both are the role of the headteacher. If governors wish to spend time within a classroom, they need to be very clear why they are doing so.”
Non-Statutory Guidance• It is good practice for the board to publish an
annual governance statement …including:– the governance arrangements that are in place,
including the remit of any committees;– the attendance record of individual governors at
board and committee meetings; and– an assessment of the effectiveness and impact of
the board and any committees with details of any particular challenges that have arisen
Consultation
• New skills-based eligibility criteria for appointed governors– ‘in the opinion of the appointing body’ “the skills
required to contribute to the effective governance and success of the school”
• 2007 Regulations to be revoked from 31/8/15
Consultation
“every member should actively contribute relevant skills and experience. Governing bodies should conduct regular skills audits and use the process of filling governor vacancies as an opportunity to address any skills gaps”.
Consultation
• Well run elections offer candidates for election the opportunity to publish a statement of sufficient length to set out:– Evidence of the extent to which they possess the skills
and experience the governing body desires;– Their commitment to undertake training to acquire or
develop the skills to be an effective governor;
Consultation
• Well run elections offer candidates for election the opportunity to publish a statement of sufficient length to set out:– If seeking re-election, details of their contribution to
the work of the governing body during their previous term of office; and
– How they plan to contribute to the future work of the governing body.”
Approaches to Academisation
• New Ofsted focus from Sept 2014 on academy freedoms;
• Regional commissioners;• MATs as favoured model;• Scrutiny of sponsors / sponsor supply
What’s Happening at the National College for Teaching and Leadership?• Chairs’ Development Programme• Workshops for Governors– Performance Related Pay (Feb/March 2014)– RAISEonline (Feb/March2014)– Efficiencies in Schools (March 2014)– 3 free places per school
What’s Happening at the National College for Teaching and Leadership?• Clerking Programme from July 2014• National College Membership– www.nationalcollege.org.uk
• National Leaders of Governance
National Leaders of Governance• What are they?
National Leaders of GovernanceWhat about you?
www.education.gov.uk/nationalcollege
National Leaders of Governance
• Speak to Local Authority / NCTL associate / NLG
or• Email [email protected]
Keep in touchAndy Kent [email protected] [email protected] www.ruthagnew.comGovernors’ Network North [email protected]
