East Sussex ClerksArea Support

& Network SessionEastbourne – 15th September 2014

Uckfield – 16th September 2014Hastings – 17th September 2014

Session content

• News Update• Key changes due to the amended

Constitution 2012 regulations• Governing Body reconstitution• Governor effectiveness• Governing Body effectiveness• Term 1 & 2 Priorities

Local and National News Updates• Local

– Professional Governance Newsletter• Latest edition available on czone

– Area Meetings• 1/10 Uckfield, 9/10 Hastings, 15/10 Eastbourne,

22/10 Lewes

• National– Hand-out

Key changes……

The School Governance (Constitution and Federations) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 came into force on 1st September 2014

•All Governing Bodies must reconstitute under the 2012 regulations by 1st September 2015

• Governing bodies are expected to consider the extent to which their size and structure is fit for purpose

Other key changes…..

• Appointment of governors with the skills to contribute to ‘effective governance and the success of the school’

• New Governors must understand:– the role of a Governor and – the Governing Body’s ‘Code of Conduct’

• Governing bodies should review their effectiveness regularly

Reconstituting the GB

• 2012 Regulations:– No fewer than 7 governors– Restricted number of staff and Authority Governors– Co-opted Governors not Community Governors – this

gives the Governing body flexibility to appoint governors based on their skills

• VA / VC Schools – minimum number is increased to ensure the ‘balance of power’ remains with the Foundation

Types of GovernorsTypes of GovernorsGovernor type Number required Appointment process

Parent Min 2 Elected by parents

Staff 1 Elected by school staff

Headteacher 1 By virtue of office held

Local Authority 1 Nominated by LA Appointed by the GB

Co-Opted Defined in Instrument of Government

Appointed by the GB

Foundation Defined in Instrument of Government

Appointed by relevant faith authority or by virtue of an office held

Partnership Defined in Instrument of Government

Appointed by the GB

Legal process for reconstitution

• Agenda item on first FGB meeting of the year• Governing Body needs to decide the new

structure – this needs to be minuted• Draft Instrument of Government to be drawn up

and sent to Governor Services. VA / VC schools need to send to the relevant Diocese for approval.

• Once approved the IOG will be legally ‘sealed’ and issued.

Practicalities for reconstitution

Following FGB agreement or included within recommendation by the working group:•Need to consider transfer of governors from current category to new category and the term of office•Need to advise Governor Services of any changes to Governor / Category•Recruit for any gaps – should be done looking at the collective skills of the Governing Body and where there are ‘gaps’

Reviewing effectiveness

Ofsted will increasingly be looking for evidence of:

•Effective governors– skills audits to inform governor development and recruitment– succession planning to ensure sustained effective governance– induction of new governors and a governor code of conduct – regular training and development of existing governors

•Effective Governing Bodies– review of governing body structure – review of governing body effectiveness

Audit governor skills

• Governing bodies should use a skills audit to identify any specific gaps that need to be filled in the skills, knowledge and experience of existing governors

• Anyone appointing governors to the governing body must appoint someone they believe has the skills to contribute to effective governance and the success of the school.

Audit governor skills

• Capacity Audit Tool (CAT)– Now available and installed on the schools

server (if the school subscribes to the IT package from ESCC)

– Will require updating when:• when a governor leaves• When a governor joins the Governing Body• Governor attends any training.

– Governing Body need to decide how they will best use the reports available

Individual Governor Effectiveness

• Governor Code of Conduct• NGA recommends that governing bodies adopt a code of

conduct that:– sets out the purpose of the governing body– describes the appropriate relationship between

individual governors, the whole governing body and the leadership team

– It recommends the code be thoroughly discussed so that the whole governing body has ownership of it.

Individual Governor Effectiveness

• Developing Individual Governors– Induction

• Training / school packs / mentoring

– Continuing professional development• Training / working groups / work shadowing

– Succession Planning• Governor identification and development

Individual Governor Effectiveness - Practicalities• Adopting a Code of Conduct

• Is your Induction pack / process ‘fit for purpose’?

• Appointment of a Training Link Governor

• Up to date record of Governor Training attended – Updating the CAT on a regular basis

Governing Body Effectiveness

• Governing bodies should review their effectiveness regularly

• GB Self evaluation – As a minimum governing bodies should

complete a self-evaluation annually– Develop a GB Development Plan that forms

part of the School Development plan

• GB facilitated review – One or two sessions

Governing Body Procedural Review

• Tool for Chair of Governors and clerks to review statutory responsibilities and best practice concerning the work of the GB

• Looks at four areas:– Statutory requirements– The work of the Governing Body– Governor meetings – Clerk to the Governing Body

Governing Body Procedural Review

• Clerk to the Governing Body– Clerk training and development – Clerk resources – Clerk line management – Clerking hours

Governing Body Priorities

• What is it that your Governing Bodies should be focussing on in terms 1 & 2 meetings?

• Why should these be discussed?

• What are the impacts of these items?

Coffee and networking

Thank you for attending