parent-governor - Doubled Up

Hoorah! The final part! Here it is. Happy reading...

20) Use of Premises: Governors of maintained schools have control of the use of the premises outside school hours, with some exceptions (eg community schools). Governors must be sympathetic to the needs of the local community, but any use by the community must cover its own costs and not be subsidised by the school.

21) Extended Schools: GBs may provide facilities or services that have a ‘charitable purpose’ for the benefit of pupils and the local community. Governors must consult with the LA, staff, parents and (if appropriate) pupils before offering services or providing facilities.

Any childcare provided by the school will be inspected by Ofsted as part of the school inspection. Any childcare not provided by the school must be registered with Ofsted.

22) Providing Information: GBs must provide their LA with information about their arrangements for pupils with special needs. In addition to this, Community and Foundation Special Schools must make information available to primary care trusts, parents and prospective parents.

• Each year, schools must produce a prospectus which must include the following:
  • arrangements for the admission of pupils with disabilities
  • details of steps to prevent disabled pupils being treated less favourably than other
  • pupils
  • details of existing facilities to assist access to the school by pupils with disabilities
  • the accessibility plan covering future policies for increasing access to the school by pupils with disabilities
  • information about the governing body’s policy on pupils with SEN and any changes to the policy during the last year

• Schools may include any other information in their prospectus that they see as useful to parents and prospective parents.

• In addition, schools must complete an online school profile yearly, and GBs should produce an annual report for parents – page 203 of the Guide to the Law gives details of exactly what should be included.

• The GB should have a written home-school agreement which explains the school’s values etc.

• The GB is responsible for ensuring that the school keeps a curricular record of all children’s achievements (both academic and other skills) and that these are updated at least annually. This must be made available to parents should they request it in writing, although some information can be kept by the school and this is listed on page 204 of the Guide to the Law.

• Maintained schools must provide an annual written report for all pupils.

• As of Sept 2008, schools should be moving towards online reporting. Secondary schools should be doing this by 2010 and primary by 2012. (I had no idea about this, so have had a brief look at Jim Knight’s letter to head teachers, panicked, and resolved to look at it another time. When I do, I’ll put more info in a blog!)

• GBs must act in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act.

When I started this marathon job of summarising the governors' statutory responsibilities, I felt a bit guilty that I have been a governor for two years and hadn't actually read the Guide to the Law. Now, six hours plus later, and only three quarters of the way through, I am guessing that most governors haven't read it, but just refer to it when necessary. That said, I have found two or three areas that our GB needs to brush up on (for example a couple of policies that are not on the website, so nothing major), and I have been reminded about parent councils - something that I have blogged on before and think would be valuable to our school.

Anyway, if it can save other governors time, here is part 5, with part 6 (hopefully the final part) to come tomorrow.

18) Equal Opportunities: Governors must ensure that the school acts with fairness and with regard to equality in everything it does. This is with regard to all of the following:

• race
• disability
• sex
• sexual orientation
• religion or belief
• age (in relation to employment)

Schools must have a written policy on race equality. This must be assessed and monitored with regard to its impact on the attainment of different racial groups of pupils. This policy can be combined with other policies, such as an equal opportunities policy.

All racist incidents that take place in the school must be reported to the LA.

Schools must have a disability equality scheme. This must show how the school is aiming to improve access for disabled pupils, staff and parents over time.

19) Parent Councils: In schools where a trust appoints the majority of governors, there must be a parent council made up from parents of children at the school (although it is permissible to have people who are not parents on the council). If possible, this must have members from each year group, each group of pupils who might require special consideration and parent-governors.

Non trust schools can also have parent councils, though this is not statutory. (I’m guessing that it will become so in the not-so-distant future.)

Here’s the next thrilling installment, folks! I’m not sure if I’ve put in previous blogs that many of these responsibilities can, and usually are passed on to the head teacher.

16) Inspections: Once the head teacher has notified the GB of an Ofsted inspection, the GB must inform parents and give them an opportunity to express their views on the school to the inspectors. The LA must also be informed, along with the local Learning and Skills Council (secondary schools) plus whoever appoints governors at Voluntary Aided schools. If there are any children at the school who are looked after by the LA, then the appropriate person at the LA should also be informed.

Once a school receives its Ofsted report, the GB is responsible for sending a copy to parents within 5 working days. It must also be made available to anyone who asks for a copy.

As well as any Ofsted inspection, schools of religious character must have the content of their act of collective worship and religious instruction inspected every 3 years.

17) Health and Safety: The GB is responsible for the health and safety of pupils. Schools must have a health and safety policy and must have the means of ensuring it is followed. Risk assessments must be carried out by members of staff who are suitably trained.

Schools should have a policy for managing medicines and helping children with medical needs.

Governors should be looking at having a school travel plan by the end of the decade, though this is not statutory.

GBs are responsible for keeping the land that is under their control free from litter, refuse and dog excrement as far as is possible.

Free school meals must be provided to certain groups of children (details are given on page 147 of the Guide to the Law). All food provided (either free meals, or paid for meals) must meet certain nutritional standards.

Pupils must have access to drinking water.

Schools must have effective child protection procedures and policies.

GBs have a responsibility to promote community cohesion. This is new since 2007, and has been inspected from Sept 2008.