A Handbook for Governors of Schools in Wales

1 Website - - 0845 6020100A Handbook for Governors of Schools in WalesMINISTERIAL FOREWORD A Handbook FORGOVERNORS OF MAINTAINED Schools IN WALESS chool Governors have overall responsibility for the conduct of their school and within thatparticular responsibilities to promote high standards of education and the welfare ofpupils. All of this is contained in a legal framework. Being a governor is both rewardingand challenging, but for Governors to undertake their responsibilities and duties effectivelyand efficiently, they need guidance and am pleased to welcome this new edition of the Governors Wales Handbook whichprovides school Governors in all maintained Schools with an accessible source of adviceand information on their am grateful for the dedication of school Governors and the important contribution theymake to the running of Schools in publication, together with the supportgovernors receive from local authorities and diocesan authorities in Wales , will helpgovernors to fulfil their important role, in helping Schools to deliver the best possibleeducational outcomes for all pupils.

2 As Minister for Education, Children and Young Peoplein the Assembly Government I am pleased to endorse the HuttMinister for Education, Children and Young People - 0845 6020100 INTRODUCTIONG overnors Wales is committed to supporting the effective governance of Schools and thepersonal development of Governors in Wales . It is hoped therefore, that the informationwhich this Handbook contains will be of assistance in helping you to fulfil your role andresponsibilities as a governor . Governors Wales will be interested to learn to what extent you have found this fourthedition of the Handbook useful or ways in which the guide might be improved. We wouldbe grateful if you would complete the evaluation form at the end of part 5 and return to: Governors Wales , Empire House, 1st Floor, Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff, CF10 5FN, oralternatively, via e-mail to: form can also beaccessed on: will notice references to the support services which local education authoritiesprovide for governing bodies.

3 Especially important are the activities of governor SupportOfficers appointed by LEAs in order that governing bodies may receive information,advice, guidance and support as well as access to training opportunities tailored to theneeds of Governors . Further information is provided on page time to time additions and revisions to the Handbook will be produced in line withdevelopments and legislative changes in school governance. Updates for the Handbookwill be printed on the Governors Wales website: also be e-mailed directly to Schools and governor Support Wales is grateful for the advice and support of Directors of Education/ChiefSchools Officers in Wales , governor Support Officers, and the Welsh AssemblyGovernment, all of whom have contributed to the production of this Edition 2007 CONTENTS Page 1. What is a governor ?12. Categories of Governors and schools23. Support and Training94. What do I need to know?105. How do Governors fulfil their responsibilities?

4 176. What exactly do Governors do - the accountable 11. What is a governor ?A governor is someone who:-is a volunteer;cares about teaching, learning and children;represents those people with a key interest in the school , including parents, staff, the local community and the LEA;is part of a team which accepts responsibility for everything a school does;has time to commit to meetings and other occasions when needed;is willing to learn;is able to act as a friend who supports the school but is still able to cast a critical eye upon how the school works and the standard it achieves;acts as a link between parents, the local community, the LEA and the - 0845 of Governors and SchoolsWho are school Governors ?You will discover that many kinds of people become Governors of Schools . Like you, theywill have a particular reason for serving on the governing body. Because of these differentreasons all governing bodies have a core group of Governors consisting of:-parent Governors ;teacher Governors ;staff Governors ;LEA Governors ;the Headteacher (acting in the capacity of a governor where this is his/her choice);Governing bodies will also consist of some of the following Governors , depending on thetype of school :community Governors ;additional community Governors ;representative Governors ;foundation Governors ;Helpline - 0845 60201003partnership Governors ;sponsor addition, secondary Schools will have associate pupil Governors .

5 Further information isavailable on page Governors share exactly the same powers and major goals which are to safeguard thequality of teaching and learning provided by the school to raise standards of achievementand attainment for the pupils and the staff, and to be accountable to the local communityfor the school s will soon find that the responsibilities which allgovernors share will be much moresignificant than the variations between the different kinds of time to time you will need to remind yourself that the law gives you no powers as anindividual. The law places powers with the whole governing body, of which you are onlyone GovernorsParent Governors are elected as representatives of the interests of parents of pupilscurrently attending the school . A parent governor can continue to serve as a governoruntil the end of their four year term of office, even if their child leaves the school duringthe Governors may express their personal views at governing body meetings, howeverit is expected that these views would be representative of the interests of the parents atthe parent governor should therefore keep in tune with the concerns and opinions of themajority of parents.

6 However, it is important that when decisions are made, individualgovernors exercise their best judgement when contributing to the decision of thegoverning governing body can, if no parents, or not enough parents stand for election, appointparent GovernorsTeacher Governors are elected as representatives of the interests of the teaching staff oftheir school . Whereas on occasion they may give the views of teaching staff to thegoverning body, they are equally free to express their personal views and exercise theirown judgements when decisions are made, like any other the views of a teacher governor will not be those of their headteacher. If thisis the case, it is wise for the teacher governor to pay the headteacher the courtesy ofinforming him or her before the particular issue is discussed in a Governors GovernorsStaff Governors are elected from among the support staff (all staff employed at the schoolother than in a teaching capacity) at the school . They may be staff employed either undera contract of employment or a contract for services at the Governors may give the views of the support staff to the governing body, they arealso free to give their own personal views and exercise their best judgement whencontributing to the decisions of the governing Education Authority GovernorsLocal Education Authority (LEA) Governors are appointed by the LEA which maintains theschool.

7 LEA Governors may present the LEAs views but they are not delegates of the LEAand they cannot be mandated by the LEA to take a particular view. LEAs should publishthe process and criteria for identifying candidates for appointment as LEA GovernorsThese Governors are invited by other Governors to join the governing body and areappointed by the governing body. Community members bring their own experience orskills to the governing body and can act as a link with the community in which the schoolserves. Community Governors usually live or work in the community of the school areaand are committed to the good government and success of the Community GovernorsAn additional community governor is nominated by the community council(s) where aprimary or nursery school is situated in an area where there are one or more - 0845 60201005A Headteacher GovernorA headteacher will be a full member of the governing body of their school unless theychoose not to be a governor . If a headteacher decides not to be a governor they are stillentitled to attend all meetings of the governing special position of the headteacher governor is important if a good relationship is tobe maintained between the head and the governing body.

8 The headteacher will:report to Governors but also involve Governors closely in the running of the school (without, of course, avoiding their own responsibilities);be honest, direct and open with Governors ;establish a good rapport with the chair person of the governing body;use simple and direct language rather than technical educational jargon;create a climate where Governors feel welcome in the school and not just when Governors meetings are GovernorsFoundation Governors are members of the governing bodies of voluntary aided,foundation and voluntary controlled Schools . They ensure that the school preserves itsparticular religious character or that it is conducted in accordance with the terms of a GovernorsThis is a person who has given or is giving substantial financial assistance to the schoolor who has provided or is providing substantial services to the school or represents theinterests of an organisation or business that has provided the same GovernorsRepresentative Governors are members of the governing body in Community Specialschools.

9 Representative Governors represent the interests of the local health board(s),NHS trusts or voluntary organisations associated with the school . They take the placeof one of the community GovernorsPartnership Governors apply only to foundation Schools which do not have a are appointed by the governing body from nominations by parents of registeredpupils at the school and by other members of the community served by the school . Associate Pupil GovernorsAssociate pupil Governors are nominated from members of the school council from Years11, 12 or 13 in secondary Schools . The aim of associate pupil Governors is to provide thevoice of the school council at governing body meetings and vice versa. They can also bemembers of the governing body non statutory committees and may vote at committeemeetings (not governing body meetings) if voting rights are granted by the GovernorsAll Governors need to become fully involved in the activity of the governing body and toensure continuity by attending meetings information Fact Files on the different types of Governors can be viewed on theGovernors Wales website at: Additional informationregarding Parent Governors , Teacher/Staff Governors and LEA Governors can be found inPart Clerk to the GovernorsMeetings of the Governors will be attended by the clerk to the governing role of the clerk and arrangements for appointment may vary from school to remains the responsibility of the governing body to decide who should act as clerk andto appoint the clerk.

10 The governing body will also need to appoint a clerk to the statutorycommittees. This can be the same person who is clerk to the governing body but may besomeone else. Broadly, the clerk convenes the governing body meetings and keeps arecord of the important matters discussed and decisions taken during the meeting (therecord is called the minutes ). The clerk also ensures that each governor receives propernotice of forthcoming meetings and makes sure that the work of the governing body iswell organised, as well as maintaining a register of Governors and reporting on - 0845 60201007 Further information is available in The school Governors Guide to the Law and TheGovernment of Maintained Schools ( Wales ) Regulations LEAs will provide a governing body clerking service which governing bodies mayaccept. Should governing bodies choose the LEA clerk service, they may be offeredadditional services such as:-advising the Governors concerning governing body policies and procedures;advising Governors concerning their responsibilities under the law;providing information about a wide range of matters of importance to Schools and their clerk is not a governor of the school and is noteligible either to participate directly ina debate or to vote.