1. Governance and inspection
Mike Sheridan, Regional Director, London
October 2016
Governance and inspection

2. Governance and inspection

3. True or false?
The governance handbook is only for the governors, headteachers, clerks and others with an interest in the governance of maintained schools.
Governance and inspection

4. False
The governance handbook is also for members, trustees, local governors, principals, clerks and others with an interest in governance of academy trusts and multi- academy trusts.
Governance and inspection

5. True or false?
Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent is one of the three core functions of all governing bodies.
Governance and inspection

6. True
Plus ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction and holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff.
Governance and inspection

7. True or false?
Boards should play a strategic role and avoid routine involvement in operational matters.
Governance and inspection

8. True School leaders have the operational role.
Governance and inspection

9. True or false?
All governors should have an understanding of the financial cycle and the legal requirements of the school on accountability and spend.
Governance and inspection

10. True
All governors should ideally have a basic understanding of the financial cycle and the legal requirements of the school on accountability and spend. But, the board should ensure it has at least one governor with specific, relevant skills and experience of financial matters.
Governance and inspection

11. True or false?
The headteacher decides the format regular reports to governors should take.
Governance and inspection

12. False
The board, not the headteacher, should determine the scope and format of headteacher’s reports.
Governance and inspection

13. Governance and inspection
Meeting those responsible for governance
Governance and inspection

14. School inspection handbook, para 85
Inspectors will always seek to meet those responsible for governance during the inspection. This will usually include maintained school governors or academy trustees (including sponsor representatives, where they exist). However, in a multi- academy trust, the board of trustees may have established a local governing body to which it may have delegated certain functions. In some other cases, there may be a local governing body that is wholly advisory, with no formal governance responsibilities delegated to it. Inspectors should ensure that meetings are with those who are directly responsible for exercising governance of the school and for overseeing its performance.
Governance and inspection

15. School inspection handbook, para 86
The contribution of governors to the school’s performance is evaluated as part of the judgement on leadership and management. As with the meetings between inspectors and pupils, parents and staff, meetings with those responsible for governance should take place without the headteacher or senior staff.
Governance and inspection

16. Governance and inspection
Inspectors will consider…
Governance and inspection

17. School inspection handbook, para 141
Governors’ vision and ambition
Challenge re motivated, respected and effective teaching staff
Engagement with parents, carers, stakeholders and agencies
Challenge re pupil premium
Create a culture of high expectations, aspirations and scholastic excellence
Challenge re primary PE and sport funding
Challenge re progress of groups of pupils
Fulfilment of core statutory functions
Challenge re Year 7 catch-up funding
Keep pupils safe from dangers including radicalisation
Promote equality and foster understanding
Challenge re teaching, learning and assessment
Commitment to own development
Use of performance management
Governance and inspection

18. Governance and inspection
Inspectors will consider whether governors…
Governance and inspection

19. School inspection handbook, para 148
work effectively with leaders to communicate the vision, ethos and strategic direction of the school and develop a culture of ambition
provide a balance of challenge and support to leaders, understanding the strengths and areas needing improvement in the school
understand how the school makes decisions about teachers’ salary progression and performance
Governance and inspection

20. School inspection handbook, para 148
performance manage the headteacher rigorously
understand the impact of teaching, learning and assessment to the progress of pupils currently in the school
ensure that assessment information from leaders provides governors with sufficient and accurate information to ask probing questions about outcomes for pupils
Governance and inspection

21. School inspection handbook, para 148
ensure the school’s finances are properly managed and can evaluate how the school is using pupil premium, Year 7 literacy and numeracy catch-up premium, primary PE and sport funding, and special educational needs
are transparent and accountable, including in recruitment of staff, governance structures, attendance at meetings and contact with parents
Governance and inspection

22. Governance and inspection
Governors, have you checked that…?
Governance and inspection

23. your details are on Edubase
all the required elements about governance are on your school’s website
the single central record up to date and that regular checks are in place
your scheme of delegation is published on your academy/ school’s website
you have a full knowledge of the impact of pupil premium, PE and sport and Year 7 catch-up funding in your school
your evaluation of the school’s effectiveness is based on hard evidence?
Governance and inspection

24. Governance and inspection
Useful references
Governance and inspection

25. HMCI’s monthly commentary, November st century governance needed for 21st century schools: november-2015
Governance and inspection

26. Changes in the 2016 school inspection handbooks: school-inspection-handbooks-published/
Governance and inspection

27. What maintained schools must publish online: www. gov
What maintained schools must publish online: online What academies, free schools and colleges should publish online: colleges-should-publish-online
Governance and inspection

28. Statutory policies for schools: www. gov
Statutory policies for schools: schools
Governance and inspection

29. Ofsted on the web and on social media
Governance and inspection