Governance support

We recognise the value and importance of local governance and the key role that governors play in our schools. Our Central Services team provides support with corporate and local governance in line with the:

Trust Strategic Development Plan
Scheme of Delegation
Governance Handbook
Clerking Competency Framework
Academies Financial Handbook

This means that we support our schools with professional clerking at all Local Governing Body (LGB) meetings, provide advice and guidance to schools on how to provide strategic direction to governors to undertake their role and ensure Governors are adequately equipped and skilled to carry out their roles and responsibilities.

In this way, we can provide the support and challenge that enables LGBs to make a significant contribution to school leadership.

What is Governance?

The Governing Board operates at a strategic level and is not involved in the day-to-day operational running of the school. Governors set the vision for the school, ensuring that it works efficiently and effectively towards achieving its vision and providing high-quality education for its pupils. Governors both support and constructively challenge the school and ensure accountability and compliance.

Governance has three essential functions:

Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction Governors or Trustees set the aims and objectives for the school or group of schools. They set the policies and targets for achieving those aims and objectives.
Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent
Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils

Governors monitor and evaluate the progress the school is making and act as a source of challenge and support to the headteacher.

In action, this means:

Appointing and reviewing the performance of the head teacher and senior leaders, including making decisions about pay
Managing budgets and deciding how money is spent
Engaging with pupils, staff, parents and the school community
Sitting on panels and making decisions about things like pupil exclusions and staff disciplinary action
Addressing a range of education issues within the school including those related to disadvantaged pupils, pupils with special needs, staff workload and teacher recruitment
Looking at data and evidence to ask questions and have challenging conversations about the school.

What is involved?

The work of the governing board is voluntary, but it has many responsibilities. In general, the governing board is there to set the policy framework for the school and to monitor the implementation as managed and carried out by the Headteacher and staff. Governors play a strategic role in the leadership and management of the school. They delegate organisational responsibilities to the school leadership team. This is made up of the Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher and members of the Senior Leadership Team.

The local governing boards usually meet six times a year, with additional meetings called when necessary for different subcommittees. Some schools run a slightly different model and meet three times a year with more subcommittee meetings. The subcommittees usually monitor attainment and progress, performance in curriculum, safeguarding, finance and premises. This will include a monitoring visit or a learning walk around the school. Governors can usually expect to spend 6 hours per month (term time only).

School governors are the largest volunteer force in education, with around 250,000 governors in England alone.

Induction training for all new governors is essential and a wide range of training is offered across different platforms and support from individual schools and the Trust.

Professional clerks support the local governing boards and the Trust has a Head of Governance to assist and provide overarching guidance and support to all schools within the Trust.

Why should I become a Governor?

Governors come from a variety of different backgrounds and have a wide range of experience and knowledge, not just in education. A broad skill base is essential for the good running of a Governing Board and anyone can apply to be a Governor. Governing boards welcome volunteers from all backgrounds.

Becoming a Governor is very rewarding and allows you to contribute to the education of children and make a difference. Governance gives individuals the opportunity to develop skills, both personally and professionally, whatever their background. This includes the opportunity to gain board-level experience, strategic decision-making skills, and experience in performance management at a high level. Many companies have a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative and are keen to encourage volunteering amongst their employees and will let staff take a set amount of paid time off per year to complete a voluntary governor role. Governors also play a key role in the local community and community engagement is key. Younger people are very welcome to apply to be governors and governance offers the opportunity to get board-level experience earlier than can be expected in their normal career paths.

How Do I Apply?

Please email BCET@bc-et.co.uk to contact us, we will be delighted to speak to you.