Barnet Partnership for Schools
Improvement (BPSI)
External Reviews of Governance
Bronwen Tumani
Chair of Governors – Foulds Primary School
National Leader of Governance (NLG)
BPSI Adviser
Email: btumani@foulds.barnet.sch.uk
Background
• External Reviews of Governance are a relatively recent development
• Started appearing as a recommendation in OFSTED Reports when
leadership and management were judged as requiring improvement
in Autumn 2013
• Nationally – conducted by NLG’s, NGA, private companies but quality
variable
• To meet local need BPSI launched a bespoke service in Barnet in
Spring 2014 and have conducted 7 reviews since the service was
launched
OFSTED Subsidiary Guidance
Where governance is ineffective in a school judged as ‘requires
improvement’ and is graded three for leadership and management,
inspectors should include an external review of governance in their
recommendations for improvement. The form of words to be used in
the report under ‘What the school should do to improve further’ is, ‘An
external review of governance should be undertaken in order to assess
how this aspect of leadership and management may be improved’. It is
for the school to decide how this review will take place, and to
commission and pay for it. Such reviews aim to be developmental, and
do not represent a further inspection.
www.ofsted.gov.uk/sites/default/files/.../Subsidiary%20guidan
ce.doc
Why have a Governance Review?
• School is judged requires improvement and it is recommended by
OFSTED
• School is self evaluating as requires improvement
• School is expecting an OFSTED inspection and wants to identify and
action priorities for improvement
• School simply wants to improve the effectiveness of the GB
What is a Governance Review?
• A governance review looks at how well your school’s governing body
is working.
• The review is offered as support to improve and develop governance
and is brokered in a spirit of collaboration. It is not an additional
inspection.
• It will help the governing body identify priorities for improvement,
and provide support on what steps to take.
• Areas of strength will be recognised and identified.
What is a Governance Review continued..
It aims to help the governing body to be:
• more skilled, focused and effective
• clear in its vision for the school or academy and how, together with the school
leadership team, it can achieve this
• confident that it has a clear delineation of roles and responsibilities
• staffed with the right number of skilled and committed governors to meet the
needs of the school or academy
https://www.gov.uk/reviews-of-school-governance
BPSI Governance Review Model
• Led by either a Lead OFSTED Inspector or a National Leader of
Governance (NLG)
• Supported by a Chair or Vice Chair of Governors from a good or
outstanding school
• Conducted at the school either during the day or as a twilight session
• Each review will be unique depending on circumstances and needs
http://webfronter.com/barnet/bpsi/menu/mnu4.shtml
What actually happens during a Review?
• Prior to the review the Lead Reviewer will:
• make contact with the Chair of Governors, Headteacher and Learning
Network Inspector (if appropriate) to discuss the issues
• Request sight of minutes, SEF, SDP, action plans etc
• Identify trails to explore during the review
• During the review the Review Team will:
• Meet with and interview the Chair and Vice Chair of Governors and
Headteacher (either separately or together)
• Sharpen questions and identify further areas for exploration
• Meet and interview the whole Governing Body
What happens continued..
• After the review:
• Produce a clear, concise report in the form of an action plan
• Provide copies of the pre-review analysis
• Provide a copy of the report to BPSI for quality assurance purposes
Example Report
Completed by
xxx - BPSI Adviser
xxx – Chair / Vice Chair of Governors (xxx School)
On
xx.xx.xx Date
Interviewed
 Chair (CoG), Vice Chair, Executive
Headteacher (HT), Associate HT
 Representation from full governing body
(GB)
Documentation
 School SSE
 Governors’ self-review
 Ofsted report
 Governors’ minutes
Objective/ purpose of review:
To review the effectiveness and capacity of the governing body in the light of direction from the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection on xxx
Context:
See pre-review analysis
Strengths, Issues, Recommendations
1. Challenge and hold to account
Strengths
Issues
2. Support
 challenge and support in equal measure
 developing their own skills
Strengths
Issues
3. Strategic
 vision
 ethos
Culture of
 excellence that fosters improvement
 high expectations and aspirations academically and socially
Modelling professional standards
Respect and courtesy
Full report can be dowloaded from BPSI website
Potential areas of focus
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Challenge and hold to account
Support
Strategic
Improvement
Monitoring and Evaluation
Performance Management to bring about improvement
Statutory duties
Data
Tackling key concerns
Ways of Working
Curriculum
Financial Management
How do I arrange a BPSI Review of
Governance?
• Read information on the website http://webfronter.com/barnet/bpsi/menu/mnu4.shtml
• Choose who you would like to lead your review
• Identify suitable date with your GB and HT for when you would like
the review to take place
• Contact the BPSI Business Support Team on Tel: 020 8359
6341/6306/6325 - e-mail: sdtued.admin@barnet.gov.uk
• The BPSI Team will arrange a Governor Reviewer to support the
process and liaise with the team to ensure your review goes ahead.