Governors' Statutory Responsibilities, Part 6

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.