Local and National News Updates Local Area Forums Exam Results, - PDF document

East Sussex Clerks Area Support & Network Session 2 nd October 2017 – The View Hotel, Eastbourne 3 rd October 2017 – Wellshurst Golf Club 4 th October 2017 – The Sussex Exchange, Hastings 4 th October 2017 (Evening) – St. Mary’s House, Eastbourne Developing outstanding school governance East Sussex Governor and Clerking Service Local Experience – Local Knowledge – Local Support Session Content • News Update • Changes to Constitution Regulations • Governor Recruitment • Governor Induction • Information Sharing Local and National News Updates • Local Area Forums Exam Results, Behaviour and attendance, Mental Health & Wellbeing – 2 nd November 2017 – The Sussex Exchange, Hastings – 8 th November 2017 – St. Mary’s House, Eastbourne – 15 th November 2017 – County Hall, Lewes – 23 rd November 2017 – Civic Centre, Uckfield • National – Hand-out 1

New Constitution Guidance 2 Changes to the School Governance (Constitution) (England) Regulations 2012: • Additional Information on the Governance Database; • New guidance to remove elected parent or staff governors. Information on ‘Get Information About Schools’ (GIAS) Database • Ensure that the following information is entered into GIAS: • Full name (including title) • Appointing body (for example, board, foundation, parents, etc.) • Date of appointment • Date term of office ends (or ended, if this was in the last year) • In maintained schools: whether he or she is the chair of governors or a member of the governing board • In academies: whether he or she is a trust member, a trustee, the chair of trustees or, in the case of multi-academy trusts (MATs), a local governor on a local governing board Removal of Governors by the Governing Board • Foundation / LA / Partnership Governors can be removed by appointing body • GB can remove Co-Opted, Parent or Staff Governors – they are only expected to do so in exceptional circumstances where the actions or behaviour of the elected governor warrants removal rather than suspension. 2

Removal of Governors by the Governing Board • Procedure to remove: – The removal of the governor needs to be a specific agenda item. – At the meeting the governor proposing the removal must give reasons for the removal and the governor concerned must have the chance to make a statement in response. Best practice would be to provide written details of the case against them prior to the meeting and given sufficient time to respond; Removal of Governors by the Governing Board – The removal is confirmed by a resolution passed at a second meeting of the GB not less than 14 days after the first meeting; – An appeals procedure is in place so any removed governor can test the reasonableness of the GB’s decision to remove them. It is advised that this is an independent appeals panel. How to avoid removal of Governors • How can this situation be avoided? – Advertising for governors: • Clear expectations – use the NGA code of conduct • The new candidate can be given information relating to the school and the role of a governor. The expectations surrounding training and other commitments can also be made clear. – Induction:. • Induction pack – include information on the boundaries and confidentiality 3

Governor Induction • What should be included in a Governor Induction Pack? More specifically: – School Information – Governing Body Information – Essential Reading – Information from the new Governor – Useful Documents / websites Checklists • Are these useful? • What other information needs to be added? – Resigning Governor Flowchart – Resigning Governor Checklist – New Governor Checklist What will you do? • Look at the material from today. Discuss with your colleagues what your priorities are. • Think about ways that you would implement them / Best Practice amongst each other. • Complete the Reflective Log if you wish…. 4

Information Sharing • Governors Online Newsfeed • Governors Online – where can you find information? • What is Czone / Webshop used for? Local Experience - Local Knowledge - Local Support Local support and services Full details of the support and services available from the East Sussex Governor and Clerking Service are available online: www.esgcs.org Local training To search for local training courses for school governors of both Local Authority Maintained and academy schools visit the East Sussex Learning Portal: www.governors.eastsussexlearning.org.uk/courses/bookings/ National support for subscribing schools Out of office hours national on-line support services for schools subscribing to our annual support packages: • The Key for School Governors – www.schoolgovernors.thekeysupport.com/ • NGA Learning Link Login – www.nga.vc-enable.co.uk/Login/Login?ReturnUrl=%2 f Contact the Governor and Clerking Service Team Telephone: 01323 466885 Email: governors@eastsussex.gov.uk We value your feedback We trust you found this session informative and will help you in your role, we are always keen to understand where you feel we are getting it right or if there are areas we can improve. For this reason we kindly request that you take a moment to complete the evaluation form in your pack. Let us know……………….. – what went well …….. – even better if ………. – What you will do differently as a result ….. Local Experience - Local Knowledge - Local Support 5