Transcript DFE Consultation

Constitution of governing bodies of maintained schools –
proposed changes to regulations
DFE CONSULTATION
Main points
• A key consideration in the appointment and election of new
governors should be the skills and experience the governing body
needs to be effective
• For every vacancy, the GB should conduct an audit to identify any
gaps that need to be filled
• Governing bodies should review their effectiveness regularly,
including the extent to which their size and structure is fit for
purpose and their members have the necessary skills
• Meaningful and effective engagement with parents, staff and the
wider community is vital. It is not the role of the GB to provide this
through its membership. They need to assure themselves that
specific arrangements are in place for this purpose.
• Governing more than one school can generate a more strategic
perspective and more robust accountability through the ability to
compare and contrast across schools
Skills based eligibility criteria for
appointed governors
Do you agree that in maintained schools and federations
the governing body and other appointing persons should
only be able to appoint governors who in their opinion
have the skills to contribute to effective governance?
• Anyone appointing governors MUST appoint someone they believe
has the skills to contribute to effective governance and the success
of the school
• Foundation governors have a particular purpose to safeguard the
character of the school, but otherwise every governors’ role is to
govern in the best interests of pupils not the interests of the
constituency form which they were appointed/elected
Transition to 2012 regulations
Do you agree with our proposal to revoke the
2007 Constitution Regulations and 2007
Federations Regulations and require all governing
bodies to constitute under the 2012 Constitution
Regulations or 2012 Federation Regulations, as
appropriate, by 1 September 2015?
Surplus Governors
Do you agree with our proposals to base the
process for removing surplus governors in
maintained schools and federations of maintained
schools on local discretion to identify which
existing governors should continue to hold office,
on the basis of skills?
Composition of governing
bodies of federations
Do you agree that the staff governor and head
teacher should be taken into account when
restricting the number of co-opted governors (and
temporary staff governors in new schools
intending to federate) who are also eligible to be
elected or appointed as staff governors?
Statutory Guidance
Do you agree with our guidance on the size and
membership of governing bodies
• Should be no bigger than necessary to secure the range of skills they
need. Smaller GBs are likely to be more cohesive and dynamic
• Minimum number of governors 7 (no maximum)
• Establish joint arrangements with other GBs
Governor skills
Do you agree with our guidance on the skills
governors and governing bodies require?
• Commitment to the role, inquisitiveness to question and analyse,
willingness to learn, good interpersonal skills, basic level of literacy
and numeracy
• Analysing performance data, budgeting and driving financial
efficiencies, performance management and employment issues
(including grievances), constructive engagement, good leadership,
allocate budget for CPD for members
Governor elections
Do you agree with our guidance on conduction
governor elections?
• GBs and LAs should take steps to inform governor elections so
that the electorate understands the extent to which
nominated candidates possess the skills the GB ideally
requires
• Set clear expectations about the role, term of office,
frequency and length of meetings, and training required
• Statement sets out skills and experience, commitment, how
they plan to contribute to the work of the GB, and on reelection details of the contribution and impact during their
previous term