Mandatory Clerk training Summer Term 2018 Contents Page 1 - Reasons for the introduction of mandatory training from September 2013 5 2 - Governing body structure and composition 5 What is the composition of governing bodies? 5 The different categories of schools 5 Different types of governors and how are they appointed or elected? 6
Parent governors 6 LA governors 6 Teacher governors 6 governors (support/non teaching) 6 Community governors 7 Minor Authority Representative (MAR) governors - Primary only 7 Foundation governors 7 Partnership governors 7 3 - Key roles and relationships within the governing body 7 The role of the Chair 7 The role of the Clerk 8 The role of the Headteacher 8 Relationship between the governing body and the Headteacher 8 4 - Main duties of the clerk 9 Duties prior to meetings 9 Record keeping 9 Register of business interests 9 Clerking committee meetings 10 Duties at meetings 10 Annual election of Chair/Vice Chair 10 Minutes 11 Knowing about procedures and the Law 11 School governors guide to the law 11
Corresponding on behalf of the governing body 12 Confidentiality 12 Recording confidential 12 Extraordinary or emergency meetings 12 5 - Governing body meetings and processes 13 Headteacher’s report 13 Availability of minutes 13 Decision making 13 Governing body decision planner - who can take what decisions? 13 Governors Wales Principles of Conduct 14 Terms of office/governor of more than one school 14 Removal due to non attendance 14 Contents Page Quorum 14 Withdrawal from meetings/conflict of interests 14 The role of teacher/staff governors 15 Power of the Chair to take decisions in case of emergency 15 6 - How does the governing body work - the role of governing body committees? 15
Delegation to committees 16 Statutory committees 16 Staff disciplinary & dismissal/disciplinary & dismissal appeals cttees 16 Pupil discipline and exclusions committee 16 Admissions committee (voluntary aided and foundation schools only) 16 Conduct of committees 16 Right of Headteacher to attend committee meetings 17 How does the Gb manage its workload during the academic year? 17 More specific information on Governing body committees 17 7 - Powers, duties and responsibilities of governing bodies 17 What is the main purpose of the governing body? 17 What are the main of the governing body? 17 The strategic role - how does the governing body do this? 17 How should governing bodies 17
9 - useful information - Vale specific 21 Vale School Governors’ Association (VSGA) information 21 Police clearance of school governors - current guidance 21-22 Dealing with complaints 22 Dealing with child protection allegations against staff members 22 Training for governors in the PM for Heads 23 Scrutiny Committee (Learning and Culture) 23 Contents Page 10 - Advice, guidance and support 24 Where can I get guidance and support as a clerk? 24 GSU publications, Governor Training Programme, Newsletter 24-25 GSU contact details 25 Appendices A – Model Instrument of Government (IoG) 26 B – Gb agenda for first meeting of the year 27 C – Model list of governing body membership 29 D – Attendance register for 30
governing body meetings E – Register of business interests 32 F – Calendar of full governing body and committee meetings 33 G – Governing Body Decision Planner 34 H – Governors Wales Principles of Conduct 39 I – Governing Body Year Planner 41 J – Making Sense of School Years, Ages and Key Stages 43 K – Safeguarding policy statement for Vale governors 44
59 To draw up instrument of government and any amendments thereafter * 60 To publish proposals to change category of school * Information for parents 61 To hold an Annual Parents’ Meeting 62 Annual Parents’ Report – to approve and distribute 63 To provide information to be published by governing bodies (approval of the school prospectus) * 64 To ensure provision of free school meals to those pupils meeting criteria 65 Adoption and review of home-school agreements GB Procedures 66 To appoint (and remove) the chair and vice-chair of a permanent or a temporary governing body * 67 To appoint and dismiss the to the governors 68 To hold a governing body meeting once a term, or a meeting of the temporary governing body as as occasion may require * 69 To appoint and remove co-opted, including temporary additional co-opted, governors * 70 To consider whether or not to exercise delegation of functions to individuals or committees * 71 To regulate the GB’s procedures (where not set out in law) * 72 To review at least once a year the establishment, terms of reference and membership of committees, including selection panels. * 73 To set up a Register of ’ Business Interests 74 To approve and set up a governors’ expenses scheme 75 To discharge duties in respect of pupils with special needs by appointing a “responsible person”
observe collective responsibility by supporting, once determined by democratic means, the decisions of the governing body; respect the governing body’s right to deem certain matters to be confidential, restricting discussion of such matters, whether inside or outside governing body meetings, solely to fellow governors and in appropriate cases solely to discussion within governing body committees; develop with colleagues on the governing body, a clear vision for the school; focus their contribution to governing body decisions upon what is in the best interests of pupils, and be conscious that the welfare of pupils should always come first in terms of child protection, health and safety and helping each child to develop their full potential; encourage and participate in systems which provide for open and effective communication, helping to establish a clear vision of the school’s development; be that all governors are equal and respect each other’s views and behave accordingly in dealings with fellow governors; be aware of their accountability to parents and others in the local community and seek to devise effective dialogue with all those interested in the conduct and standards of the school; observe all protocols and procedures agreed by the governing body; be open, honest, objective, fair and impartial and prepared to confront the personal prejudices that may hinder informed decision-making including conflicts of interest. With the rise in popularity of social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, governors should remember that they are a representative of the governing body and part of a corporate body. It is therefore sensible for governors to maintain a certain level of separation on social networking sites, as this may create a conflict / difficult situation in the future.
Appendix J Making of School Years, Ages and Key Stages School Year Age of Child Phase and Key Stage Foundation Phase 3 - 5 Foundation Phase 3 – 7 years = Key Stage 1 5 – 6 6 – 7 Year 3 7 – 8 Years 3,4,5 & 6=Key Stage 2 Year 4 8 – 9 Year 5 9 – 10 Year 6 10 – 11 Year 7 11 – 12 Years 7,8 & 9 = Key Stage 3 Year 8 12 – 13 Year 9 13 – 14 Year 10 14 – 15 Years 10 & 11 = Key Stage 4 Certificate of Achievement or GNVQ (Part One) – Continual assessment throughout KS4 Take GCSEs at end of Y11 Year 11 15 – 16