- Meetings
- Responsibilities
- Committees
- Supporting the school
- Time off from work
- Training
- Getting to know your school
Meetings
- Governing bodies must (by law) meet at least three times a year. Most meet twice per term (six times over a full year). These often last between 2 and 2.5 hours.
- The agenda and supporting papers should been sent to all members at least seven days before the meeting.
- Governors should always read the agenda and other papers, before the meeting.
Responsibilities
- Governors give strategic leadership and accountability in schools.
- They appoint the headteacher and deputy headteacher.
- In some schools the site is owned by the governing body.
- They are responsible for finance in schools.
- They work with the headteacher to make the tough decisions about balancing resources.
Responsibility for the school should be shared with a variety of views brought to the task. It sounds a burden, but a governor does not carry them alone. Governors cannot act on their own as decisions must be made by the governing body. This body (as a whole) is accountable for all decisions taken by the Governing Body or any of its committees.
Note: Advice, support and training are available to all governing bodies from the local authority and other sources.
The role of the governing body is a strategic one, its key functions are to:
- Set the aims and objectives for the school.
- Set the policies for achieving those aims and objectives.
- Set the targets for achieving those aims and objectives.
- Monitor and evaluate the progress the school is making towards achievement of its aims and objectives.
- Be a source of challenge and support to the headteacher (a critical friend).
The headteacher is responsible for:
- The internal organisation, management and control of the school;
- and the implementation of the strategic framework made by the governing body.
When you become a school governor you receive a 'welcome pack' from the local authority. The pack includes copies of newsletters, relevant Governor Information Bulletins and information that is of relevance to all governors. The clerk to the governing body will provide information that is specific to the school.
The Department for Education also produces a 'School Governors' Guide to the Law'. This is free to all governors (the clerk will give you with a copy). It gives an outline of the powers and duties of the governing body. It can also be found online, visit: DFE: School Governance (GOV.UK).
Committees
Most governing bodies have a number of committees made up of at least three governors. The number of committees and what each one deals with varies from school to school. Although a lot of our schools are now working to just two committees that cover all areas:
- Finance and Resources;
- and Standards and Effectiveness.
Some other examples of committees are Finance, Staffing (or Personnel), Curriculum, Health and Safety, Premises, 'Parents and Community. In this way, the work of governing bodies is broken down into manageable parts.
You should expect to be asked to join at least one committee. To be an effective governor you should be prepared to play a regular and active role in committee activity. The terms of reference of committees are tasks and responsibilities delegated by the governing body. You may want to find out how often they meet in your school. It is usually once or twice a term for most committees.
At times, the governing body can set up working groups to look at specific topics. You can be asked to be on a committee to investigate a complaint or considering the exclusion of a pupil. These types of committee generally are not required to meet very often. Committees and working groups should meet at times that are convenient to most of their members. Governing bodies are encouraged to plan a programme of meetings in advance. However, most meetings are held in the evenings. They can be held in the daytime, if all or most members are available.
If appointed to a staffing or personnel committee, you could be involved with hiring staff. (This could be teaching, support and at times heads/deputies.) This is quite time consuming. If you need to interview, there can be meetings to confirm/review job descriptions, shortlists as well as interview candidates.
Most of our schools also have link governors (linked to a particular area). This is not statutory, but is good practice. In Calderdale, we recommend these links:
- Special Educational Needs (SEN)/Inclusion (which incorporates gifted and talented).
- Children Looked After.
- Safeguarding.
- Health and Safety.
- Governor Development.
- Headteacher performance management governors are also needed. (Three are preferred, but at least two.)
The governing body's Chair/Vice Chair are elected in line with the terms of office agreed by the governing body. This may be for one year and up to four years.
Supporting the school
It is important that governors are seen to support the school. So, you are likely to be invited to attend events like school concerts, plays and fairs. Many schools also have a policy for governor visits.
Time off from work
Employers should give employees who are school governors 'reasonable time off' to carry out their duties. What is 'reasonable time off' should be agreed with your employer. This may or may not be with pay.
Training
Calderdale offers a wide programme of training and support for governors. For more details, please see: Training and Development.
Getting to know your school
When you become a governor, you are a representative not a delegate. (Whether appointed by the Local Authority or elected by parents, they cannot tell you to take a specific view.)
Most new governors will need some time to get to grips with their role. Nobody will expect you to know about all the issues that come up. You should expect to be able to ask questions and get answers from other governors and the headteacher.