INDUCTION COURSEINDUCTION COURSEON BEING A GOVERNORON BEING A GOVERNOR

October 2012

Marie O’Donoghue

Introduction - Objectives

By the end of the Induction Course,governors should:-

• have an appreciation of roles and responsibilities of Governors;

• 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 InductionINTRODUCTION

Who’s who on the Board of Governors?

The role & responsibilities of Governors?

Features of effective Governors

Characteristics of effective Schools

How Boards of Governors Operate

How Governors play their part

What Governors can expect of the Principal

Conclusion & Questions

Board Rep: Appointed by the Education and Library Board

Transferor Rep: Representing mainly the churches & nominated by the churches

Trustee Rep: Nominated by the legal Trustees

DE Rep: Nominated by the DE

Parent Rep: Elected by parents of pupils at the school

Teacher Rep: Elected by permanent teaching staff

Principal: Non-voting member of Board of Governors

Constitution of a Board of Governors

Primary Governors- 94 Transferor Reps 2 ELB/DE Governors2 Parent RepsI Teacher Governor

Board Of Governors

Post Primary 166 Transferor Reps4 ELB/DE Governors4 Parent Governors2 Teacher Governors

Board Of Governors

Nursery 85 ELB/DE Governors2 Parent Governors1 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

•  • Every School a Good School – Development Planning• 3 April 2012 - 2.00-4.30 pm Ulidia Resource Centre•  • Count, Read, Succeed• 23 January 2012 - 2.00-3.30 pm Ulidia Resource Centre• 15 March 2012 - 6.30-8.00 pm Ulidia Resource Centre•  • Developing a Policy for Dealing with Critical Incidents• 8 February 2012 - 2.30-4.30 pm Ulidia Resource Centre• 21 February 2012 - 6.00-8.00 pm Ulidia Resource Centre•  • Induction • 25 November 2011 – 1.30-4.00 pm Ulidia Resource Centre •  • Safe Guarding and Child Protection for School Governors • 6 December 2011 - 6.30pm-9.00pm, Ulidia Resource Centre• 31 January 2012 - 6.30pm-9.00pm, Ulidia Resource Centre• 8 February 2012 -2.30pm-5.00pm, Ulidia Resource Centre

Training

• Managing Attendance

• Every School a Good School-Development 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 Agenda

• Minutes Committees

• Chairperson Vice-Chairperson

• Secretary Working Parties

• Discussion Decisions

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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 groupsYou 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 andprocedures

Circular 06/06Safer recruitment practices for educationauthorities

Circular 06/07The employment of substitute teachers

DE Circulars in relation to safeguarding

Circular 06/08The requirement for child protection training inrelation to interviewing and selection panels

Circular 2012/19The 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 COURSEON BEING A GOVERNORON BEING A GOVERNOR

Thank you for attending

Adminstrative SupportMary Coyle 028 90564297Mary.coyle@belb.co.ukCoordinatorMarie O’Donoghue 028 90564295Marie.o’donoghue@belb.co.uk