Governor Live 2013

Why do we need excellent school

governing and how do we get it?

Professor Chris James University of Bathc.james@bath.ac.uk

Why do we need excellent schoolgoverning and how do we get it?

What’s the problem? The turbulent context High stakes The ‘neglect’ of school governing

(But there are good reasons to be optimistic!)

Why do we need excellent schoolgoverning and how do we get it?

The turbulent context ‘Academisation’ and free schools Collaboration pressures The changing role of the local

authority Funding changes – and financial

audits Performance management Curriculum and assessment changes Changes to inspection

Why do we need excellent schoolgoverning and how do we get it?

High stakes•The expectations of schools are high and rising – for children, amongst parents, teachers, communities and society generally.•Failure to meet the standard required has serious and dramatic consequences – at all levels.

Why do we need excellent schoolgoverning and how do we get it?

The ‘neglect’ of school governing – until recently:•It has been under-researched•Policy development has not helped to clarify the responsibility or raise the profile of school governing•It has had a very low public profile

Why do we need excellent schoolgoverning and how do we get it?

The problem - The Perfect Storm?•Good governing is essential but more difficult in the current turbulent context. •Rising standards and expectations demand more of governors and the consequences of failure are significant. •The neglect of school governing hasn’t helped governing quality – it’s improving but we need excellent governing now!

Why do we need excellent schoolgoverning and how do we get it?

How do we get excellent school governing?•Be clear what the task is•Recruit the right people all the time and train them all the time•Make sure you’re organised

Why do we need excellent schoolgoverning and how do we get it?

The task: To take collective responsibility for the conduct of the school, so:•Know and scrutinise: results, the finances and policies•Fulfil your statutory duties•Have a clear sense of what you want the school to become

Why do we need excellent schoolgoverning and how do we get it?

Recruit the right people (all the time) and train them (all the time):•Motivation, opportunity, capability•A range of high-level personal qualities•The abilities to:• scrutinise• work well in a group• learn (the most important

ability?) 

Why do we need excellent schoolgoverning and how do we get it?

Make sure you’re organised•The chair•The committees•The meetings•The annual cycle

Why do we need excellent schoolgoverning and how do we get it?

Some other issues . . . •Paying governors is not a good idea.•The capable stakeholder model is best•The size of governing bodies is a side issue, a distraction.•Inter-school collaboration is growing and has significant implications for school governing.

Why do we need excellent schoolgoverning and how do we get it?

Finally . . . .•Schools are very important places, so the way they are governed is very important.•We need to further improve school governing.•Excellent governing in every school is achievable.

We need excellent governing for excellent schools