INDUCTION COURSE
ON BEING A GOVERNOR
Marie O’Donoghue
October 2012
Introduction - Objectives
By the end of the Induction Course,
governors should:• have an appreciation of roles
responsibilities of Governors;
and
• know how Boards of Governors carry out
their functions.
• understand
what
makes
effective
governors and effective schools;
What do you
think the role of
a governor is?
The Role of The Board of
Governors
• The role of the Board of Governors is to manage
the school with a view to providing the best
possible education and educational opportunities
for all of the pupils. This involves:
• Setting the strategic direction for the school;
• Taking corporate decisions in relation to the
statutory functions of the Board of Governors.
Key Resources
• Scheme of Management
• Governor’s Handbook• Every School a good school
http://www.deni.gov.uk/
• ELB training
• ELB,CCMS,NICIE and CNaG contacts
Governor Induction
INTRODUCTION
Who’s who on the Board of Governors?
Board
Rep:
Appointed by of
theGovernors?
Education and Library Board
The role
& responsibilities
Transferor
Representing
mainly the churches & nominated by
Features ofRep:
effective
Governors
the churches
Characteristics
of effectivebySchools
Trustee Rep: Nominated
the legal Trustees
How
Boards ofNominated
GovernorsbyOperate
DE
Rep:
the DE
Parent
Rep:
Elected
by parents
How Governors
play their
part of pupils at the school
Teacher Rep:
Elected by permanent teaching staff
Principal:
Non-voting member of Board of Governors
What Governors can expect of the Principal
Conclusion & Questions
Constitution of a Board of
Governors
Primary Governors- 9
4 Transferor Reps
2 ELB/DE Governors
2 Parent Reps
I Teacher Governor
Board Of Governors
Post Primary 16
6 Transferor Reps
4 ELB/DE Governors
4 Parent Governors
2 Teacher Governors
Board Of Governors
Nursery 8
5 ELB/DE Governors
2 Parent Governors
1 Teacher Governors
How a Board of Governors
operates
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Number of meetings
Quorum
Withdrawal
Sub committees/Working Parties
Principal’s role
Chairperson’s role
Decisions
Annual Report
•
•
•
•
•
•
Governor Membership
Financial Statement
Curriculum and Assessment
Attendance
Admissions Policy
SEN
The Core Function of
Education
• ‘To ensure that every learner
fulfils his or her full potential at
each stage of her or his
development.’
(Every School A Good School, A Policy
for School Improvement, 2009)
Breadth of Role
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Finance
HR
Health and Safety
Child Protection
Building Management
Curriculum and Standards
Best interests of the pupils
Training
• Induction
• Recruitment & Selection of Staff
• Recruitment & Selection of Staff
(Refresher)
• Cred
• Financial Management & Accountability
• Freedom of Information, Data
Protection, Records Management &
Information Security
Training
• Managing Attendance
• Every School a Good SchoolDevelopment Planning
• Count, Read, Succeed
• Developing a Policy for dealing with
Critical Incidents
• Safe Guarding and Child Protection for
School Governors
Working In a Team
Nolan Principles
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Selflessness
Integrity
Objectivity
Accountability
Openness
Honesty
Leadership
How a Board of Governors Operates
- Code of Practice
Confidentiality
• We will observe complete confidence when required or
asked to do so by the governing body, especially
regarding matters concerning individual staff or pupils.
• Although decisions reached at Governor meetings are
normally made public through the minutes or otherwise,
the discussions on which decisions are based should be
treated as confidential.
• As a matter of trust we will not discuss the views of
fellow governors with members of the public outside our
meetings.
• We will exercise the greatest prudence if a discussion of
a potentially contentious issue affecting the school arises
outside the governing body.
How a Board of Governors
Operates
•
•
•
•
•
Meetings
Minutes
Chairperson
Secretary
Discussion
Agenda
Committees
Vice-Chairperson
Working Parties
Decisions
17
Features of Effective Governors &
Effective Boards of Governors
• Working as a team
• Good relationships with the principal
• Effective time management and delegation
• Effective meetings
• Knowing the school
• Awareness of current education policy
• Maintaining confidentiality
• Training and development
• Collective responsibility
Workshop Activity
What Makes a Good School?
You will have about 10 minutes to discuss this question in groups
You should elect a Chairperson and Reporter to feedback your views.
Characteristics of A Good
School
•
•
•
•
Child Centred Provision
High Quality Teaching & Learning
Effective Leadership
A School Connected to its local
community
Reference: Every School a Good School
(DE Policy April 09)
Role and Responsibilities of School
Governors in relation to safeguarding
Role
The best interests of children are of primary
consideration and you should ensure that the
necessary safeguarding measures are in
place to make all pupils feel safe and
protected in your school environment
Role and Responsibilities of School
Governors in relation to safeguarding
The safeguarding role must be integrated with
the following areas of your responsibilities:
Pastoral Care Policies, Training, Recruitment,
and Consultation requirements
Child Protection Strand 1
Governors have statutory obligations to keep
children safe. These slides provide essential
information for ALL Governors. Your
Principal and Designated CP Governor have
specific responsibilities.
Statutory Duties Of School Governors
in relation to safeguarding
Education and Libraries ( NI ) Order 2003
Articles 17, 18 and 19 places duties on
Governors to:
• Safeguard and promote the welfare of
registered pupils at the school
• Have a written Child Protection Policy and
ensure it is implemented
Statutory Duties Of School
Governors in relation to safeguarding
• Specifically address the prevention of bullying in
school discipline policies
Good Practice recommendation
• Nominate a designated governor for child
protection who should not be the teacher
representative or parent representative
Roles and Responsibilities of
Chair and Designated Governor
• Chair of board of Governors is involved in
managing any complaints or allegations
against members of school staff
• Chair will work with Designated Teacher in
managing any complaints/allegations against
the Principal
• Designated Governor will be kept informed
about complaints/allegations
DE Circulars in relation to
safeguarding
Circular 99/10: Child protection policy and
procedures
Circular 06/06
Safer recruitment practices for education
authorities
Circular 06/07
The employment of substitute teachers
DE Circulars in relation to
safeguarding
Circular 06/08
The requirement for child protection training in
relation to interviewing and selection panels
Circular 2012/19
The vetting of paid and unpaid staff
Circular 2012/19
(superseding circular 06/25)
The requirement for vetting of school governors
DE Circulars in relation to
safeguarding
Circular 2008/03
Responsibility for undertaking criminal
background checks belongs to Access NI
Circular 2008/10
Substitute Teachers must be booked online
via NISTR
Resources for School Governors
in relation to safeguarding
The Child Protection Support Service for
Schools (CPSSS) has developed a specific
Handbook for all School Governors in relation
to their safeguarding role
Case Study
Working in groups, identify incorrect
procedures by underlining them. It may
be useful to reference these to the
Scheme of Management.
INDUCTION COURSE
ON BEING A GOVERNOR
Adminstrative Support
Mary Coyle 028 90564297
Mary.coyle@belb.co.uk
Coordinator
Marie O’Donoghue 028 90564295
Marie.o’donoghue@belb.co.uk
Thank you for attending