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Summer 2015
Bracknell Forest Governor
Training and Development
Programme
A message from Christine McInnes, Chief Officer, Learning & Achievement
Firstly I’d like to thank you for the very warm welcome I have received from
you since joining Bracknell Forest in June 2014. During the time I have
been here, the pace of educational change has continued to place
significant demands not only on school staff but also on governing bodies.
The Ofsted framework introduced in September 2015 has brought your
work under unprecedented scrutiny, rightly recognising the critical role that
governing bodies play in school improvement. Governing bodies across
Bracknell Forest have risen to the challenge splendidly, with high
attendance at all key training events and I look forward to seeing the
impact in schools when I visit. As we come to the end of another term, I am
writing to provide a brief update on developments over the term.
Headteacher recruitment
You will be aware that a number of headteachers are retiring or moving onto new posts and so
we have been working very hard to support governing bodies in their successful recruitment of
new headteachers. A particular thanks to the HR team, Rachel Morgan and Lyn Baily who have
played a key role in ensuring rigorous recruitment processes and securing good appointments.
The Brakenhale – Jane Coley, currently Deputy Head at Edgbarrow was appointed and will take
up post after Easter.
Meadow Vale - Lee Parsons, currently the Deputy Head will take up post as Headteacher in
September.
Birch Hill – Michael Dillon, currently Headteacher at Kew Riverside Primary school will take up
post in September. Len Hughes-White will be leading the school over the summer term with
support from Karen Cameron (assistant HT) and Nigel Duncan from Meadow Vale.
Great Hollands – the current Deputy Head, Richard Ferris has been appointed as Headteacher
taking up post in September.
Jennett’s Park – Jo Evans, formerly Headteacher of Bagshot Infant School will take up post after
Easter.
Wooden Hill – Jo Lagares, currently Deputy Headteacher at Owlsmoor will start to work with the
school in June 2015, taking up the post fulltime in September.
Warfield - Paula Jenkins, currently Deputy Headteacher at Sandy Lane will take up the post of
co-headteacher in September 2015.
Recruitment is underway for headships at The Pines, Harmans Water, Sandy Lane and
Winkfield St. Mary’s, with interviews taking place early next term.
Such a large cohort of new headteachers will place a high level of demand on our systems and
we will be talking with you about how we can work together to support new colleagues' induction
into headship in Bracknell Forest.
Summer 2015
institutions. A programme of training will be
rolled out across the LA over the coming year
and training is currently being organised.
School improvement services
Sadly we will be losing Tracey Moyes,
formerly headteacher of Fox Hill school, at the
end of this term. I’d like to thank Tracey for
her contribution to Bracknell Forest schools
and wish her all the best for the future.
Emotional health and wellbeing
There continues to be a high level of national
interest in this topic with £1.25 billion of new
funding to help children and new mothers with
mental health issues and Public Health
England producing new guidance for
headteachers and college principals on the
eight principals for promoting emotional health
and wellbeing.
Thank you for your contribution to the
consultation on the draft Quality Assurance
and School Improvement Policy. There were
some very clear messages from headteachers
and chairs of governors (CoGs)about what
services would be helpful moving forward. I
am planning to have a more detailed
consultation during the summer term so that a
final version will be in place for September.
The Children and Young People Mental Health
Taskforce published its final report, Future in
mind – promoting, protecting and improving
our children and young people’s mental health
and wellbeing. The announcement refers to “a
number of proposals the government wishes to
see by 2020, including:
HMI and Ofsted
We recently met with the new link HMI, Louise
Adams and we look forward to working with
her over the coming year.
Recent Ofsted inspections and HMI visits
continue to focus on current concerns of
extremism, British values, equalities and Pupil
Premium, as well as overall achievement. You
will soon have a new model Safeguarding
Policy which includes sections on all aspects
of safeguarding including the Prevent agenda
( see below), but in the meantime please use
the sample policy issued at the last
headteachers’ (HT) meeting so you have
something in place. Safeguarding has been a
key concern for a number of years and
ensuring all requirements are up to date can
slip off the ‘to do’ list. Again this is an area
which is being actively scrutinised so please
check all aspects.

tackling stigma and improving attitudes to
mental illness

introducing more access and waiting time
standards for services

establishing ‘one stop shop’ support
services in the community

improving access for children and young
people who are particularly vulnerable.
For more information see https://www.gov.uk/
government/publications/improving-mentalhealth-services-for-young-people
Locally, we have set up a sub-group reporting
to the Health and Wellbeing Board and the
Children and Young People’s Partnership
aiming to improve Tier 1 and 2 emotional
health and wellbeing/mental health provision
over the medium to long term. In the short
term, boxes of books promoting emotional
health and wellbeing will soon be available for
loan to schools, supported by guidance on how
to use the contents effectively to promote
emotional health and wellbeing.
I know many of you have already worked on
ensuring your websites are fully compliant, for
those that haven’t it is well worth prioritising
this activity. At a recent HMI monitoring visit
where the school had not updated its website,
this was the first issue the HMI raised in her
meeting with me. Websites are being actively
scrutinised and this a quick win.
Thank you for all your hard work over the term,
I hope you have a restful break over Easter.
Prevent
I disseminated a briefing on Prevent (1 of the
4 elements of CONTEST, the government’s
counter-terrorism strategy)at the last HT and
CoGs meetings. Prevent aims to stop people
becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.
Prevent will become a statutory duty which
applies to local authorities and educational
With best wishes,
Christine McInnes
Chief Officer, Learning and Achievement
2
Summer 2015
The Summer Term Programme
New to the training programme this term are 2
sessions provided by Sue Hackman:
opportunity to explore the practical side of
reviewing the performance management of the
Headteacher - a key role for governors. All
governors involved in this process should
attend this training. Governing Bodies need to
look ahead and decide who will be on the
performance management panel. It is
important to also train other governors so that
trained individuals are available in the event of
an appeal, and as part of succession planning.
‘The implications of the new assessment and
accountability arrangement for primary
schools’ and ‘The new primary national
curriculum’.
It is expected that all primary schools will
have governor representation on these
sessions. Some of you will know Sue as our
keynote speaker at the Governor Conference
and from her session in February on Pupil
Premium. See also page 7.
The National Governors’ Association (NGA)
states that ‘one of the most important people
the governing board works with is its
clerk………..an effective clerk is an invaluable
resource …..’ This will not come as a surprise
to governors. In addition to the termly Clerks’
briefing sessions, we offer Clerks’ Forums on
a regular basis to provide an opportunity for
clerks to keep updated and to learn from each
other through facilitated discussion. These
forums are well attended and provide an
opportunity for experienced and new clerks to
discuss current issues or particular challenges.
The next Clerks’ Forum has been scheduled
for Tuesday 12 May at midday at the Open
Learning Centre.
In July, Diane Pye, our Early Years
Consultant, will provide an insight on Ofsted
expectations when inspecting Early Years
provision and recognising good quality early
years provision.
Sessions on monitoring are provided on a
regular basis. However a variety of trainers
can offer a different perspective. In her
session in May, Karen Roche, herself a
governor and Ofsted Additional Inspector, will
be sharing examples and tools to help
governors with monitoring tasks, without
onerous report writing, while using the
monitoring outcomes to plan for improvement.
The working relationship between the Clerk
and the Chair is crucial to the effectiveness of
the governing body and we have scheduled a
session in the Autumn term on “The Chair
and Clerk working together”. See page 14 for
other forthcoming training .
Although not a statutory requirement, all
governors should attend safeguarding
training. Debbie Smith, our Safeguarding and
Inclusion Team Manager, will lead a
lunchtime session suitable for all governors
which Clerks will also find useful.
Please book onto the Summer term training
you wish to attend using the booking form at
the back of this publication, or by contacting
Sue Shields: 0118 936 6402
[email protected]
Planning ahead - The Performance
Management training has been split into two
parts to accommodate the need for both an
understanding of the regulations and also the
Venues
Bracknell Forest Education Centre, Easthampstead Park, Off Peacock Lane, Wokingham.
Do not rely on the postcode for directions, please download their map for accurate information
at www.eastpark.co.uk/
Bracknell Open Learning Centre Rectory Lane,
Easthampstead, Bracknell, RG12 7GR (next to
Brakenhale School)
http://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/
3
Summer 2015
Briefings, and Induction
Clerks’ Briefing
Wednesday 29 April
13:00 - 14:30
Bracknell Open Learning Centre
Chairs’ Briefing
Thursday 30 April
19:30 - 21:00
Newbury, Education Centre
Easthampstead Park Conference Centre
To provide information to governing bodies,
via the clerk, of relevant actions and
information that needs to be considered
during the term. Briefing papers will be
circulated at the meeting.
Current initiatives will be discussed with the
opportunity to ask questions of the Executive
Member for Children, Young People and
Learning and the Director of Children, Young
People & Learning in person.
Agendas are circulated prior to meeting.
Booking is not required.
Agendas are circulated prior to meeting.
Booking is not required.
Course Code: BG37
If the Chair cannot attend, please make
every effort to ensure that another governor
attends in their place to hear key messages
and information.
Course Code: BG32
Induction Training for New Governors
Thursday 30 April
09:30 - 15:30
Open Learning Centre
Development Governor Forum
Wednesday 10 June
18:30 - 20:30
Holly Spring Infant & Nursery School
All governors should attended the training,
ideally within six months of appointment or
election. Clerks are also encouraged to
attend.
18:30 tour of school 19:00 - 20:30 meeting
Aim:
· To introduce the role and work of school
governing bodies;
· To make governors aware of their role
and responsibilities;
· To increase new governors’ confidence
to enable them to contribute fully and
effectively to their governing body.
Development Governors meet and discuss
current and future training needs. An
opportunity for the exchange of good practice
and experience of individual governing
bodies and to be updated on local and
national developments. Development
Governors offer their schools as the venue
which gives attendees the opportunity for a
short tour of other schools in Bracknell
Forest.
Content:
· Setting the vision and strategic direction
of the school;
· Holding the Headteacher to account for
educational performance;
· Ensuring the financial resources are well
spent.
Provider: Fiona Edwards, Associate Trainer
Agendas are circulated prior to meeting.
Booking is not required. If the Development
Governor cannot attend, please make every
effort to ensure that another governor attends
in their place.
Course Code: BG31
Course Code: BG38
4
Summer 2015
Clerks’ Forum
Tuesday 12 May
12:00 - 14:00
Open Learning Centre
Implications of the new assessment and
accountability arrangements for
primary schools
Wed 6 May - 19:00 – 21:00
Education Centre
Target Audience: All Clerks with all levels of
experience.
Target audience: All primary school governors.
Aim: Sue will outline and explain the significant
changes that have taken place in primary
assessment, and the implications of new
accountability measures being introduced next
year.
Aim: To provide an opportunity for clerks to learn
from each other through facilitated discussion.
Content:
Content:
These include a new way of defining the floor
standard for schools, higher expectations, a
different way of measuring progression, and the
end of the system known as 'levels' in favour of
local solutions. Sue will review the alternatives to
assessment by levels, highlight the new groups
of pupils who will make or break your school's
results, and reflect on the immediate impact of
changes for pupils coming through.
This will be a facilitated discussion forum.
Participants may suggest topics for discussion
before the event.
The agenda will be confirmed prior to the session.
Provider: Sue Hackman, Associate Trainer
Course Code: BG13
Providers:
Fiona Edwards, Associate Trainer & Jackie
Mulvey, Governor Services Officers & Clerk to
Governors.
Course Code: BG33
Monitoring, Providing Evidence and Planning
for Improvement
Monday 18 May 19:00 - 21:00
Education Centre
Briefing on the new Primary National
Curriculum
Thursday 14 May
19:00 – 21:00
Education Centre
Target audience: All governors.
Target Audience: All primary school governors.
Aim: During this session governors will:
 Understand the requirement to and importance of
monitoring the school's priorities;
 Share examples and tools to help them with their
monitoring tasks without onerous report writing;
 Consider how monitoring can lead to action
planning.
Aim: In this session, Sue will explain what lies
behind the significant changes to the primary
curriculum.
Content:
This will include content, assessment and the
hike in the expected standard.
Content:
 Monitoring of the school's Improvement (or
Development) Plan;
 Monitoring the priorities for development, with
particular reference to governors who are not
education practitioners;
 Feeding into the school's self-evaluation process;
 Using the monitoring outcomes to plan for
improvement.
Sue will run through the subjects pointing out
the major changes of emphasis and content,
and give participants some illuminating tasters
of the new curriculum.
Provider: Karen Roche, Governor and Ofsted
Additional Inspector
Course Code: BG36
Provider: Sue Hackman, Associate Trainer
Course Code: BG34
5
Summer 2015
Performance Management
Safeguarding for Governors
Tuesday 2 June
12:30 - 14:30
Open Learning Centre
Part 1 -The regulations
Thursday 25 June
Part II -The practical side
Thursday 2 July
Education Centre (19:00 - 21:00)
Target audience: Although not statutory, all
governors should attend Safeguarding Training.
This is essential training for governors with
responsibility for Child Protection (CP) and
Safeguarding. Clerks will also find this course
useful and are encouraged to attend.
Aim: To support governors in understanding their
monitoring responsibilities in relation to
safeguarding issues.
Content:
 Outline of CP procedures in Bracknell Forest.
 Update on current legislation and the
responsibilities of schools and governors.
 Learning from recent serious case reviews.
 The concept of significant harm and the four
categories of abuse.
 Creating of a protective working environment
and a 'safe culture' within in schools.
Governors should aim to attend both sessions but
may attend just one part, as appropriate, if they
have already attended PM training.
Target audience: All governors involved in the
headteacher’s performance management need to
understand the process.
Note: Governing bodies need to look ahead and
decide who will be on the panel. It is important to
also train other governors so that trained
individuals are available in the event of an appeal,
and as part of succession planning.
Part 1 -The regulations
Aim: This session will focus on the theory and
regulatory framework behind the governors’ role in
reviewing the performance management of the
headteacher - a major role of the governing body
and integral to school improvement.
Provider: Debbie Smith, Safeguarding and
Inclusion Team Manager
Course Code: BG39
Content:
 Annual performance management report - what
is within and beyond our remit;
 How to ensure the headteacher’s performance
management process is effective;
 Details of the headteacher performance
management process;
 New guidelines & how they impact procedures.
Making a Difference to the Quality of
Teaching (Primary)
Thursday 18 June
19:00 - 21:00
Education Centre
Target Audience: All governors
Aim:
This workshop is designed to give some insight
into how governors can support schools
in making a difference to the quality of teaching
in the school.
Part II -The practical side
Aim: To explore practically the governors’ role in
reviewing the performance management of the
headteacher.
Content:
 How do you evaluate the quality of teaching?
 How can you support the school in
improving teaching?
 How do you measure the impact of the
quality of teaching over time?
 What do you do if teaching is not good
enough?
Content:
 Examine what makes an effective headteacher’s
performance management process;
 Practice obtaining and assessing the evidence,
and conducting a meeting to review the targets;
 Explore objectives that are focussed on school
improvement and the appropriate support and
monitoring of these.
Providers: Rachel Morgan, Senior Adviser
(Primary) and Linda Baily, School Improvement
Professional.
Course Code: BG40
Provider: Fiona Edwards, Associate Trainer
Course code: Part I BG30 Part II BG35
6
Summer 2015
Introducing Sue Hackman
Preparation for the New Ofsted Inspection
Framework for Early Years
Tuesday 7 July
19:00 - 21:00
Education Centre
Target Audience: All primary school governors
Aim: To support governors in enabling them to
understand Ofsted expectations when inspecting
Early Years provision. To help governors
understand good quality early years provision.
Content:
 An overview of Ofsted grade descriptors and
their meaning;
 What good quality provision looks like in
practice;
 How to ask meaningful questions that should
lead to improvements in practice.
Provider: Diane Pye, Early Years Consultant
Course code:
BG41
Sue was the Chief Adviser on School
Standards to several Secretaries of State at
the DfE between 2006-2013.
She was responsible for accountability,
assessment, inspection, school improvement,
pedagogy, catch-up programmes,
international policy and deprivation, as well
as the core subjects. Prior to joining the
department, she was a national director of the
national strategies under the last government.
Her experience spans all key stages; she
started her career as a secondary school
English teacher and was also a local authority
adviser. She is an experienced school
inspector and a well-known writer with over
eighty titles to her name.
To Be Arranged for Secondary
School Governors.
Secondary Governors’ Training and
Development Network New Curriculum Changes in Secondary
Schools
Target Audience:
All secondary school governors. Full details will
be sent out to all secondary school governors
via clerks shortly.
Aim:
To establish an opportunity for secondary school
governors to come together on a regular basis.
In the spring term Sue provided a very well
received session on “Assuring the impact of
Pupil Premium” attended by 49 governors.
The first session will focus on ‘New Curriculum
Changes in Secondary Schools’ followed by a
broader discussion about the current and
emerging training needs of secondary governors
and how Bracknell Forest can help to facilitate
this.
This term we are fortunate to have Sue
provide us with two sessions:
 A Briefing on the new Primary National
Curriculum;
 Implications of the new assessment and
accountability arrangements for
primary schools.
Facilitator: Chris Salt, Secondary Adviser
7
Summer 2015
Governor Development Conference 2015
Delegates at the conference on the back steps at the Easthampstead Park Conference Centre.
For example, in terms of praise 61% of
references to governors were positive.
Examples of positive comments included:
On Saturday 24th January nearly 100 Bracknell
Forest School governors gathered at the
Easthampstead Park Conference Centre for
the annual Governor Development
Conference. The theme this year was “Striving
for Improvement”.
“the members of the governing body know a lot
about the school because they regularly visit
and talk to teachers, parents and pupils. They
check the school’s information and ask
challenging questions”
We were pleased to welcome Sue Hackman
as our key speaker this year. (see previous
page). The theme of Sue’s talk was ‘Looking
back, looking forward’ based on a close
scrutiny of the most recent Ofsted report on all
schools in the Borough. Sue dispelled the
slight anxiety that had developed when she
explained this, by going on to say that on the
whole “They’re good!”
“Governors know the school well. This enables
them to provide good support and hold the
school to account. They contribute well to plans
for the future of the school.”
Examples of other comments were also
provided together with commentary on why
some judgements were negative. Sue then
looked at specific aspects relating to pastoral
and subject areas as well as differentiation by
groups. It was very revealing and provided
greater clarity on what Ofsted would expect in a
good or better school.
Sue went on to look closely at weaknesses
and strengths with particular reference to
leadership, and throughout her presentation
used words extracted from actual (anonymous)
Ofsted reports from our schools. In addition,
the presentation was illustrated by statistics
relating to references in the reports as a whole.
Sue concluded with her “reasons to be
cheerful” and listed the main positives about
8
Summer 2015
Bracknell Forest schools that she had distilled
from the reports;

Great atmosphere

Sense of security

Good behaviour

Great attitude to learning

Strong early years

Respectable reading results

Reasonable progress

Sound teaching

Fantastic governors

Some great Heads and Leaders.
your classroom assistants and subject
leaders? Find out.
Sue’s incisive and well informed presentation
was very well received by delegates.
Comments from evaluations included:
 Another excellent, thought provoking day.
Very well worth giving up a Saturday.
 Informative and well delivered
presentation and workshops.
 Excellent and buzzing.
 An inspiring day!
 Another informative and inspirational day.
She helpfully then suggested 6 areas where
we could be better, giving specific ways that
these could be achieved.
 Chance to share experience with other
governors and learn new ways and best
practice.
1. Teaching is sound, but not consistently
good or outstanding. Use the best to
support the rest.
 It was good to look specifically at BF data.
2. Take a more active approach to the
more able. Check your data and ask the
more able to tell you what its like for
them.
 Absolutely brilliant!
Sue will be speaking at the Headteachers’
briefing in April and we are fortunate that she
has also agreed to provide training on specific
topics as part of our training programme. See
page 5 for full details.
3. Get to a closer match of teaching to
need and ability. Make smarter use of
tracking data.
4. Make better use of marking to elicit
improvements. Expect revisions.
Review writing, marking and feedback.
Date for your Diary
5. Deal with your weak subjects eg writing ,
in many cases, especially boys.
The Governor Development Conference next
year will be held on 30 January 2016
6. Are you getting the best value out of
9
Summer 2015
Our Outstanding Governors and Clerks
As in previous years, the Local Authority invited governing bodies to celebrate in a collective way
the achievements of individual governors and clerks who have made an outstanding contribution
to the governance of their school. This year there were 14 nominations.
Nominees were presented with certificates by Cllr Gareth Barnard, Executive Member for
Education at a short ceremony before the conference on 24 January.
In nominating a governor or clerk, governing bodies were asked to submit a citation to
accompany the award and highlight specific achievements. For governors they were asked to
consider and comment on how the nominee performed one or more of the three main roles of
governors and how they have made a difference, together with any special skills that the
individual had demonstrated in making the governing body more effective. For clerks, Governing
Bodies were asked to consider how he/she performed one or more of the three main roles of
clerking, and how they impact on the effectiveness of the governing body:
The calibre of the nominees made it very clear that we are fortunate to have many committed and
hard working individuals involved in the leadership of our schools. It was significant that five of
our winners this year were Clerks to Governing Bodies, recognising how important that role has
become in ensuring the effectiveness of governing bodies.
Award winners: Anne Gibbons, St Margaret Clitherow RC Primary School; Bob Piggin, Uplands
Primary School; Carole Blunden-Lee, Wildmoor Heath Primary School; Emma Keeler, College
Town Junior School; Kim Archer, Holly Spring Infant and Nursery School; Kiri Smith, Owlsmoor
Primary School; Elizabeth Bosch, The Pines School; Mellissa Bell, Ascot Heath Junior School;
Mike Beadsley, The Brakenhale School; Pat Watts, Wildridings Primary School; Stephen Pope,
Crowthorne CE Primary School; Sue Barber, Winkfield St Mary’s CE Primary School; Rachel
Clayton, Whitegrove Primary School; and, Liz Dolby, Garth Hill College.
10
Summer 2015
Recruiting Governors
What do Governors do?
With the current emphasis on selecting
governors with the right skills, governing
bodies have to make an effort to get the right
people round the table. The right people are
not always the people that you know or who
volunteer to become governors at your school.
The following resources may help to ensure
that you find the people that you seek.
Potential governors will clearly need to know
what is expected of them and a good
summary of the role is available on the
National Governors Association website at:
www.nga.org.uk
This document also appears as a model
governor job description in “Welcome to
Governance “ published by the NGA and sent
out to all new governors and clerks by the LA.
As a member you can purchase copies of this
publication for only £5.
School Governors One Stop Shop
The School Governors One Stop Shop
(SGOSS) is a government backed
organisation that exists to fill vacancies on
school governing boards. Their emphasis is to
recruit people from business. Schools can
register with SGOSS through their website:
https://www.sgoss.org.uk/
The service is free. Signing up with SGOSS
allows you to create a school profile, add/
remove/edit your vacancies, list any specific
skills requirements, and gain access to
additional resources and guidance to help with
staff and parent vacancies.
You may want to use some of the content in
the letter you send out asking for nominations
for parent and staff governor elections.
As well as describing what governors do, it
also lists a few things that governors should
not be doing e.g.writing policies.
Reconstitution
Over 60% of maintained schools in the
Borough have reconstituted their governing
bodies as they are required to do under the
2012 Constitution Regulations. The deadline
for reconstitution is 1 September this year.
Clear statutory guidance is available and
Clerks have been given regular updates and
documentation at Clerks’ Briefings over the
last 2 years.
The Inspiring Governors Alliance
The Inspiring Governance Alliance is the result
of discussions between the Department for
Education, the National Governors’
Association, NCOGS, CBI, SGOSS and the
Education and Employers Taskforce about
how to:
 celebrate the valuable role played by
school governors
 increase the number of governing bodies
actively seeking to recruit and develop
high calibre governors with relevant skills
and experience and increase the number
of employers supporting staff to volunteer
as governors as well as promoting
governance as a key learning and
development opportunity for staff.
If you need help in interpreting the guidance it
is likely that your Clerk will be able to advise.
You can also contact Jackie Mulvey in
Governor Services.
01344 354071
[email protected]
Governor Services Team
Many of you will know Rosalind Day who has
been working in Governor Services for 16
years as Governor Services Assistant.
Ros will be leaving us at the end of April to
move back to Bristol where she grew up and
where many of her family still live. She will be
greatly missed and we wish her well.
The DfE asked the charity Education and
Employers to lead on generating support for
the Alliance and its objectives and developing
this website which can be viewed at
http://www.inspiringgovernors.org/governingbodies/recruit-new-high-quality-governors/
One of Ros’s main roles has been to keep our
governor database up to date, and this will
now be taken on by Rachel Clayton who has
been job sharing the role with Ros since
October 2014.
The website provides links to useful sources of
information and provides advice to governing
bodies and employers.
11
Summer 2015
Governors with particular responsibilities
All governing bodies must have a Chair and Vice Chair, but in addition, it is recommended that
all governing bodies have individual governors who have oversight of a particular area of
responsibility. It is recommended that the areas below are covered by individual governors, and
their names should be notified to Governor Services.
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Governor
Governing bodies have statutory responsibilities for pupils with SEND. A SEND governor has the
responsibility for liaising with the school’s SEND co-ordinator (SENCO) and must ensure that the
governing body is aware of, and fulfils its responsibilities for, special education as described in
the DfE statutory guidance.
Child Protection (CP) Governor
Governors are accountable for ensuring that their school has effective child protection policies in
place that meet local and national guidance. A governor with CP responsibility needs to ensure
that up to date appropriate policies are in place and that staff and parents are aware of them. It
would also be appropriate for this governor to ensure (by asking the Headteacher) that all staff
have received up to date safeguarding training and that the governing body meets statutory
requirements for attendance on safer recruitment training.
The CP governor has responsibility for championing child protection issues, liaising with the
headteacher, and providing information and reports to the governing body. However they should
not take the lead in dealing with specific safeguarding issues, nor do they have the right to know
details of such cases.
Development Governor (previously Link Governor)
It was agreed at the spring term Link Governor Forum that the Link Governor would, from this
point on, be called the Development Governor which more appropriately reflects the role. It was
agreed that it was crucial to develop this role, to better support the effectiveness of the GB.
The key role of the Development Governor is to encourage and support the development of the
skills of individual governors and the governing body as a whole by ensuring that all are aware of
appropriate training opportunities. Training should be discussed on a regular basis at governing
body meetings.
The role of the Development Governor will be revised and discussed at the next Forum.
The role can be as wide or as narrow as the governing body wishes which could incorporate
organizing a buddy or mentoring for new governors and supporting with recruitment.
Governing Bodies may also wish to appoint governors with other responsibilities such as
Health and Safety, Gifted and Talented or a governor linked to the core subjects.
Further information is available in the NGA publication Welcome to Governance or on the
NGA website.
Governors, Associate Members and clerks are reminded that
membership of the NGA forms part of the Governor Services
Service Level Agreement and therefore everyone should be
enjoying the benefits on offer.
The site can be visited at http:/www.nga.org.uk/ Access to the members’ area of the website is
via a password. If you have not received your password, please speak with your clerk who is
responsible for liaising with the NGA on GB membership. Note that your membership is in the
name of Bracknell Forest Council, rather than your individual school.
12
Summer 2015
Another tool for the toolkit
Volunteers needed for school
admission appeals panels
Governors will be aware of the Ofsted Data
dashboard and the Fischer Family Trust
dashboard, but would be forgiven if they had
not seen another useful tool provided by the
charity the Education Endowment Foundation
called the Families of Schools database.
Bracknell Forest Council wants to
encourage new people to become involved
in school admission or exclusion appeal
panels. The role is voluntary, although full
training is provided and expenses are paid.
The role can be undertaken for a period of
one year or for longer and our requirements
on your time can be flexible depending on
the amount of appeal hearings and on your
availability.
This database is a tool to help schools
understand how the performance of their
pupils, particularly disadvantaged pupils,
compares to other schools with similar
characteristics.
It groups schools into families of 50 according
to a number of factors including the prior
attainment of pupils, the percentage of pupils
eligible for free school meals and the number
of children with English as an additional
language.
‘Being a panel member is deeply
rewarding as, for a brief moment in
time, you have the ability to make a
major contribution to many families’
needs and desires’
Bob Hook, Bracknell Forest Appeals Panel Member
You will need to discuss with your
Headteacher whether this is a tool that has
been set up for your school.
www.educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk
School admission appeal panels determine
appeals lodged by parents where their child
is not offered a place at their preferred
school or if they are permanently excluded
from school. The work ensures a fair and
accountable schools system in Bracknell
Forest.
Your Ofsted data dashboard
can be viewed on the Ofsted
website www.ofsted.gov.uk
Search for your school under
inspection reports. This will
bring up your school’s page where you can
look at the report, parentview and the data
dashboard.
Each panel is made up of people who do
not have direct experience of teaching or
managing schools as well as people who
are experienced in education, such as
former teachers and parents of registered
pupils.
School Term Dates
Summer term 2015
If you would like to become involved in this
interesting and rewarding work or for further
information contact the Clerk to the Appeals
Panel Jemma Durkan on 01344 352209,
email [email protected]
Monday 20 April 2015 - Wednesday 22
July 2015
May half term - Monday 25 May 2015 Friday 29 May 2015
Autumn term 2015
Or in writing to the Clerk to the Appeal
Panel, Corporate Services,
Easthampstead House,
Town Square,
Bracknell,
RG12 1AQ.
3 September - Friday 18 December 2015
(INSET 2 September)
October half term: Monday 26 October
2015 to Friday 30 October 2015
Christmas holiday: Monday 21 December
2015 - Friday 1 January 2016
13
Summer 2015
Forthcoming Governor
Training - Autumn 2015
On line resource
for governors
and clerks
training we plan to provide
Clerks Briefing - Tuesday 15 September
(13:00 - 14:30)
Chairs Briefing - Wednesday 23 September
(19:30 - 21:00)
Bracknell Forest Governor Services has paid
a subscription for all governors, associate
members and clerks enabling them to access
Governor e-learning (GEL) at no additional
charge.
Dates may be subject to change.
Induction for New Governors
Induction over two evenings (BG01)
Tuesday 13 October & 20 October
19:00 - 21:30
Induction over one day (BG02)
Thursday 26 November
09:30 - 15:00
Finance
GEL is an on line learning experience
providing governors with a flexible way to
access information and training.
Introduction to Education Funding and School
Budgets
Tuesday 3 November
Introduction to the Financial Framework that
governs schools
Tuesday 24 November
It seeks to support governors across all types
of school setting and provides high quality and
accurate learning through learning modules,
supporting documents and hot topics.
Individual governors and clerks each have a
unique log in and area within GEL, where
progress against completed learning modules
is recorded.
Modules include:
 The role of the SEN governor
 Safeguarding - the governors’ role
 Health and safety
 Looked after children
 Understanding school finance
 Governors’ visits to school
 Monitoring and evaluation
 The role of the governing body
 Monitoring performance data and targets
 Taking the chair
 The governors’ role in school
improvement
 Pupil Premium
Both 18:00 - 19:30
Paul Clark, Education Centre
Development Governor Forum
Wednesday 4 November
18:30 - 20:00
Chair and Clerk Working Together
Tuesday 17 November (BG03)
19:00 - 21:00
Dates to be set
This support is available to you at your
convenience to enable you to be an effective
governor.
The Role of the Clerk
Managing Complaints
Secondary Chair and VC Seminar
Please make use of this valuable resource.
Taking the Chair – liaising with Wokingham
To register visit:
www.elc-gel.org
or call GEL
01223 652030
Self Evaluation
Knowing your school through the data
(primary)
Safer Recruitment
is available
14
Summer 2015
GOVERNOR & CLERK DEVELOPMENT
BOOKING FORM
All schools have signed the Governor Services Service Level Agreement
(SLA), therefore all governors, associate members and clerks are entitled to
attend training sessions at no additional cost.
PERSONAL DETAILS
SURNAME:
TITLE:
FORENAME:
MR
MRS
MISS
MS
OTHER ………………………….
HOME ADDRESS:
POSTCODE:
TEL NO:
MOBILE NO:
EMAIL ADDRESS:
SCHOOL DETAILS
SCHOOL NAME:
POST HELD:
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Most courses are held on the second floor at the Education Centre, Easthampstead Park
unless stated otherwise. This is accessible only by stairs. If you are unable to manage the
stairs up to the Education Centre, please complete this ‘special requirements’ box so that
an alternative room may be sought on the ground floor.
Special requirements eg. Access (difficulty with stairs)
(please specify)
Special Dietary requirements?
(please specify)
Please return this form to Sue Shields:By post:
By Fax:
Sue Shields, Bracknell Forest Education Centre
Easthampstead Park, Wokingham, RG40 3DF
0118 977 0561 Email: [email protected]
Data Protection Statement: The information you have provided will be used for the
purpose of governing body support and training only. We will not disclose any
information about you to outside organisations or third parties without your written
consent, unless there is a legal requirement to do so.
15
Summer 2015
DATE
COURSE TITLE
TIME & VENUE
BG037
Booking
not
required.
19:30 - 21:00
Education Centre
BG32
Booking
not
required.
Induction for New Governors
09:30 - 15:30 (full day)
Open Learning Centre
BG31
Wed 6 May
Implications of the new
assessment and
accountability arrangements
for primary schools
19:00 - 21:00
Education Centre
Tues 12 May
Clerks’ Forum
12:00 - 14:00
Open Learning Centre
BG13
Thurs 14 May
Briefing on the new
Primary National
Curriculum
19:00 - 21:00
Education Centre
BG34
Mon 18 May
Monitoring, providing
evidence and planning for
improvement
19:00 - 21:00
Education Centre
BG36
Tues 2 June
Safeguarding for Governors
12:30 - 14:30
Open Learning Centre
BG39
Wed 10 June
Development Governor
Forum
18:30 - 19:00 Tour of school
19:00 - 20:30 meeting
Holly Spring Infant & Nursery
School
BG38
Thurs 18 June
Making a difference to the
quality of teaching
(Primary)
19:00 - 21:00
Education Centre
BG40
Wed 29 April
Clerks’ Briefing
Thurs 30 April
Chairs’ Briefing
Thurs 30 April
13:00 - 14:30
Open Learning Centre
CODE
TICK TO
BOOK A
PLACE
Performance Management
BG33
Booking
not
required.
BG30
Thurs 25 June
Thurs 2 July
Part I - The Regulations
Part II - The Practical Side
19:00 - 21:00
Education Centre
Tues 7 July
Preparation for the New
Ofsted Inspection
Framework for Early Years
19:00 - 21:00
Education Centre
To be arranged
Secondary Governors’
Training and Development
Network.
BG41
Full details to be sent to
all secondary school
governors.
16