Transcript ECA Ofsted feedback and good practice

Ofsted framework 2012
Feedback from inspections carried out under the new
framework and implications for clerks and governing bodies
Clerks briefings
April 2012
• Anecdotal feed back from
inspections in the spring term;
• Best practice for minute writing;
• Encouraging your governors to
challenge;
• Keeping the minutes’ book.
Subsidiary guidance: governance
In assessing the role and impact of the
governing body, inspectors take account of
how well the governing body:
• knows the school
• supports and strengthens school leadership
• provides challenge to school leaders,
particularly with regard to improving the
quality of teaching
• works efficiently with the school.
Subsidiary guidance: governance
• Sources of evidence about the effectiveness of the governing body
include:
• a discussion with one or more members of the governing body
• minutes of governing body meetings
• references to the work of the governing body as part of more
general discussions with key staff, for example, the headteacher;
the special educational needs coordinator; the child-protection
officer; staff with links to particular governing body committees; or
governors with designated responsibilities
• discussions with other members of staff and, where relevant, pupils
about the impact of the governing body on the work of the school.
Safeguarding
Whilst there is no longer a dedicated “safeguarding
inspector” in inspection, this area remains a key
issue for all Ofsted inspections.
What can the clerk do to contribute?
• Ensure that the Child Protection Policy is reviewed and
adopted on an annual basis and that other policies that
relate to safeguarding (including personnel policies such
as Dealing with Allegations against Staff) are kept up to
date and reviewed regularly.
• Ensure that new governors complete self-declaration
forms and an enhanced CRB check when appropriate.
Safeguarding
What can the clerk do to contribute?
• Appoint a nominated governor for safeguarding and
agree (and minute) that a named governor – usually the
Chair - has the responsibility to facilitate any allegations
made against the headteacher.
• Appoint a Health and Safety Governor and encourage
them to undertake regular “climate walks” of the school
premises.
• Ensure that safeguarding is a regular item on the full
Governing Body agenda (best practice, every term) and
also on committee agendas when required.
Safeguarding
What can the clerk do to contribute?
• Encourage all governors to attend safeguarding training,
and recommend that governors monitor staff training
and induction to ensure that child protection is discussed
by new and existing staff.
• Make sure that at least one governor has undertaken
Safer Recruitment training and is accredited.
• Suggest that the Governors’ Induction policy and
procedures include information about child protection,
confidentiality and the school’s complaints procedures.
Sources of evidence about the effectiveness of the
governing body include minutes of governing body
meetings
What can the clerk do to contribute?
• Ensure that your minutes clearly record decisions that are
made, and also reflect a level of challenge, questioning and
support from a range of governors – demonstrating their role
as “critical friend”.
• Ensure that actions and decisions-and unanswered questions are followed up at a later meeting, and encourage governors
to discuss the impact of those actions.
• Suggest that you or your Chair writes a termly “summary” of
challenge and support by governors – making reference to the
minutes of meetings or additional opportunities.
Encouraging your governors to challenge
What can the clerk do to contribute?
• Encourage governors to undertake training to
increase their knowledge and confidence to ask
informed questions.
• Make sure that supporting papers are sent out with
the agenda at least seven days in advance of the
meeting, so that governors can familiarise
themselves with reports and ask relevant questions.
Effective and Efficient Governing Bodies
What can the clerk do to contribute?
• Ensure that the committee and meeting structure is
well organised, efficient and effective.
• Encourage governors to look at the membership of
their Governing Body and recruit governors with
professional knowledge and expertise, to add to the
effectiveness of strategic decision making and
accountability.
Effective and Efficient Governing Bodies
What can the clerk do to contribute?
• Encourage governors to keep a policy schedule up to
date, demonstrating their compliance with legal
responsibilities.
• Advise governors to undertake as much training as
possible, particularly in key areas including
safeguarding, finance, and other statutory
responsibilities.
Maintaining the minute book –best practice
suggestions
• Maintain an “inspection” copy of the minutes book available in the
school.
• When sending out agendas and supporting papers, ensure that a
copy is included in the inspection file.
• If you generally get your “own” copy of the minutes signed, when
the minutes are approved at the meeting ask the chair to sign two
copies of the minutes (including a signature at the bottom of each
page – you could create a footer for this) and include one of the
sets in the inspection file.
• Ensure that confidential agendas and minutes are included in a
separate file, which is kept securely and not made available to the
public.