Accountability and professional governance From the stakeholder to a skills based model

Lord Nash ‘This Government recognises that governors play a vital role in driving up school and pupil performance. As part of the Department for Education governance reform programme, we are committed to raising the profile of governors to make them feel more valued and to ensure that they receive the recognition that they deserve’. July 2014 Letter to chairs Sept 14

Governors at the heart of accountability Our vision is for an accountability system which is challenging, fair and transparent – one in which school level governance and national arrangements hold autonomous schools and colleges to account for the education they provide. Accountability and governance Research priorities and questions April ccountability_and_governance_research_priorities_and_questions.pdf

Governance review governors were insufficiently focused on the important issues, especially, teaching and learning; governing bodies had a tendency to be large and to carry passengers; the long established stakeholder model of governance meant that decisions could be influenced by vested interest; there was over reliance on information from the head and poor understanding of performance data.

a A wide ranging reform programme to improve the quality of school governance 1.Clearer focus on the strategic role 2.Increasing flexibility of membership and focusing on skills 3.Investment in training 4.Supporting recruitment of governors with good skills

Since April 1.Amendments to School Governance Constitution Regulations Governors handbook re written 3.New Ofsted framework

Mandatory reconstitution By September 1 st 2015 – 45 schools New duty: ‘ is appointed by the governing body as a governor having, in the opinion of the governing body, the skills required to contribute to the effective governance and success of the school and having met any additional eligibility criteria set by the governing body’.

Help and advice DfE roadmap – on tables Your clerk Governor Services

Key document Governors’ handbook For governors in maintained schools, academies and free schools September 2014

Major updates Academy focus Includes the new constitution regulations New skills based eligibility criteria Strategic – robust framework for setting priorities Strategic/ operational divide more specific ‘Need to know’ package at the start of each term

Governors Handbook Key points 2 The GB’ s code of conduct and bringing the governing body into disrepute NGA’s skills audit Schools causing concern – new statutory guidance

New framework Ofsted has reduced its guidance publications on school inspection to just three: 1.School Inspection Handbook, 2.The Framework for School Inspection 3. Briefing note on inspecting safeguarding.

Key changes Separate judgements for Early years and 6 th forms No individual lesson observation grades Curriculum review ‘core values fundamental to modern British life’ Achievement judgement – range of evidence Narrowing gaps for disadvantaged pupils

Governance All in one place – School Inspection Handbook

Governance – British values ‘….ensure that they and the school promote tolerance of and respect for people of all faiths (or those of no faith), cultures and lifestyles; and support and help, through their words, actions and influence within the school and more widely in the community, to prepare children and young people positively for life in modern Britain’. ‘ …..look at a school’s curriculum to ensure that it is not only broad and balanced and prepares children for life in modern Britain, and that it also “actively promotes the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs’.

14 th October 2014 Special Educational Needs & Disability (SEND) Reforms - implementation & governors' responsibilities SCH GOV04Liz Malcolm 17 th November 2014 Implementing a School Complaints Process SCH GOV06Andy Mead 19 th January 2015 Building the Dream Team: making the most of reconstitution SCH GOV09Andrew Dodge 27 th January 2015 Judging pupil achievement using data sources SCH GOV10Nick Flesher 4 th February 2015 The role of governors in the exclusions process SCH GOV07Adam Wells 10 th February 2015Drive to OutstandingSCH GOV11Nick Flesher 2 nd March 2015 Curriculum & Assessment – what governors need to know SCH GOV16Davina Salmon 16 th March 2015Conference for special school governors SCH GOV12Various

Leadership Development Programme Scholarships available Wandsworth cohort 3 Starts 22 nd November Governor workshops: *3 free places for every GB* Financial efficiencies 2 nd December RAISEonline 26 th February National clerks training Scholarships available Wandsworth cohort 1 Starts 20 th November SWLSEP governance reviews Swlsepgovernance.org.uk or

Clerking National training programme Accreditation? Recruitment Jobs.wandsworth.gov.uk

Next chairs’ briefings Thursday, 22 nd January 2015 Distributive leadership and succession planning for chairs? Ofsted preparation for governors? Wednesday, 29 th April 2015 [post meeting note: the dates above are confirmed as correct.]