YOUR GOVERNING BODY:
EFFICIENT AND
EFFECTIVE?
Support and ideas for
the Clerk and the
Governing Body
Pam Langmead
Essex Clerks’ Conference 2009
Objectives
In this session, you will have the
opportunity to consider and discuss:
• What does “effective” look like in a
school, a governing body and a clerk?
• Have they got the structures and
procedures right?
• Is the communication effective?
• Are your governors doing their bit?
So what does effective look like?
• Some schools are more effective than
others, some governing bodies are
more effective than others and – it has
to be said – some clerks are more
effective than others.
• What are the characteristics which lead
to effectiveness?
High Organisational Effectiveness
Features of an effective school
It is the governing body and headteacher working
together who are ultimately responsible for
ensuring that their school is effective in
promoting high standards of educational
achievement and securing the welfare of its
pupils. Effective governance involves teamwork
between the headteacher, staff, governors and
community.
However, as clerk you are also helping to meet this
objective and it is therefore important that you
are aware of the qualities that it is considered are
necessary to make a school effective.
Features of an effective school
• Professional leadership – the head is the
professional leader who should make sure that all staff have
opportunities to show leadership and take part in decision
making
• Shared vision and goals – a common sense of
purpose and clear targets
• A learning environment – a climate in which
pupils are able and willing to learn
• A learning organisation – learning and
development for all – adults and children alike
Key qualities of an effective
governing body
• Effective teamwork – it is essential that the
governing body acts as a team and not as a collection of
individuals. Each governor should attend governing body
meetings and share the workload
• Equal status – all governors have equal status and
everyone’s opinions should be valued and respected
• Collective decisions – decisions should be made
democratically. Collective responsibility is required and
governors must be loyal to the majority view
Key qualities of an effective
governing body
• Relationships – there must be a good working
relationship between governors and the headteacher. Each
must have a clear understanding of their respective roles and
have regard to the boundaries
• Confidentiality – must be respected at all times
• Effective time management and
delegation – the governing body must operate
professionally and efficiently, with appropriate delegation and
regard to everyone’s work load and work-life balance
Features of an effective clerk
• As clerk you will need to ensure that the
governing body meet legal and
procedural matters in accordance with
statutory requirements.
• The following qualities are considered to
be vital in being an effective clerk
Features of an effective clerk
• Be a team player – build good relationships and be
totally loyal to the governing body
• Be involved with your school – know what’s
happening
• Gain knowledge – undertake training, keep
abreast of new developments, keep the Guide to the
Law by your bedside (and read it occasionally!)
• Ask for help – know when and where to find help
and advice
• Be organised – keep to deadlines and organise
the paperwork
Features of an effective clerk
• Use common sense – there will often be issues
which arise which are not “in the rule book”
• Be prompt for meetings
• Be calm at all times – even when you don’t
feel like it!
• Be dependable and confident – so that
governors know that they can rely on you
• Be trustworthy – maintain confidentiality
Have they got the structures
right?
• Committee structure review
• Committee clerking review
• Effective chairing of the governing body
and committees
• Time management and delegation
Is the communication effective?
•
•
•
•
Sending out the paperwork
Communication at meetings
Agenda setting and approval of the minutes
Relationship between the Head, Chair and
Clerk
• Do the governors know each other and use
their skills and interests to contribute to the
Governing Body?
Are your governors doing their
bit?
Activity
Consider the audit in the handout and
review whether the Governing Body is
doing all it can to support you as Clerk
to make sure you can do a really good
job.
What else can we do?
• Schedule a termly agenda setting meeting to
ensure that purposeful agendas are set in a
timely fashion
• Undertake regular self-evaluation and audit
exercises to ensure that the governing body
is effective and efficient
• Encourage and enable the Clerk and all
governors to undertake training and access
support to enable them to carry out their role
effectively
• Don’t reinvent the wheel!
Support for clerks and governors
• Essex Governor Services
• 01245 436318
www.essex.gov.uk/governors
• Essex Clerks’ Association
www.essexclerks.org
• Governorline 08000 722 181
• Governornet www.governornet.co.uk/
Objectives
The objectives of the session were to give you
the opportunity to consider and discuss:
• What does “effective” look like in a school, a
governing body and a clerk?
• Have they got the structures and procedures
right?
• Is communication effective?
• Are your governors doing their bit?