Privacy Policy [opens in new window]

Governors

Working with governors

The role of school governor has changed over the years, and with schools facing economic challenges it is now even more important that school business managers have a good relationship with their governors

read more

Working with governors on safeguarding issues

Governors carry the weighty responsibility of overseeing and monitoring safeguarding arrangements in schools. How can schools help them with this task? This article considers some practices they might adopt

read more

Are you getting the best value from your ICT provision?

Where can schools get reliable information on ICT equipment? David Gordon looks at some useful sources

read more

Are you helping your school to create good citizens?

Some schools still have a limited understanding of how to make citizenship education effective, according to a new report from Ofsted. David Gordon looks at the background to the report and describes a tool that governing bodies can use to evaluate the teaching of citizenship in their schools

read more

Why professional development is the key to school improvement

A recent Ofsted report has highlighted the role of governors in evaluating CPD. David Gordon examines the report and other sources of information that will be valuable to governors in this task

read more

The way forward for school governance?

The long-awaited report of the Ministerial Working Group on School Governance comments on the performance of governing bodies and makes recommendations for change. David Gordon examines its findings

read more

Why spending on teaching assistants could raise attainment

A new report has found that well deployed teaching assistants help raise a school’s attainment. David Gordon looks at the details

read more

The Financial Management Standard in Schools (FMSiS) – supporting your school through assessment

In an educational management world filled with assessment, the FMSiS may seem at first to be yet another drain on the school business manager’s time – but this ebulletin shows the vital supportive role it can play for all of those involved in leading the school

read more

Encouraging pupils to cycle to school

As Bike to School week approaches, David Gordon looks at what governors can do to make sure their school is ‘bike friendly’

read more

Secrets of outstanding schools

Two recent Ofsted reports highlight the characteristics of schools that have excelled against the odds. David Gordon examines the reports and looks at what governors can do to help their schools achieve and sustain excellence

read more

Get ready for tighter budgets

As the government warns schools to start planning for a period of austerity, David Gordon rounds up essential information to help your school prepare for the future

read more

Sustainability: a top priority for governors

As Ofsted urges schools to make sustainability a top priority in their improvement plans, David Gordon looks at what governors can do to help their school go green

read more

Making the most of governors

Governors play a vital strategic role in the management of a school, so it is worth investing some time and resource in making sure that they are performing as effectively as possible

read more

How to detect fraudulent admissions applications

David Gordon looks at the problem of fraudulent admissions applications and provides a set of common ruses to look out for

read more

How governors can help schools to meet the behaviour challenge

School governors have been told that they can expect to be at the forefront of the government’s latest drive to improve behaviour in schools

read more

Secondary curriculum: guide for governors

Modular changes to A-Levels and the introduction of diplomas are just a few changes that have come to the secondary curriculum since September 2008. David Marriott offers a related guide for governors

read more

'Untrained volunteers' on governing bodies

Joan Sallis opposes the removal of 'untrained volunteers', such as parents and members of the community, from governing bodies - or the attempt to 'professionalise' them

read more

Governors: help or hindrance?

Do we really need governors? Roger Smith considers the governing role of this seemingly random assortment of stakeholders

read more

Value in linking school governors and school bursars

There is value in building a working link between school governors and school business managers says Crispin Andrews, who strongly advises bringing them into the senior leadership team

read more

Working with governors on G&T provision

It is important for gifted and talented (G&T) coordinators and leading teachers to garner the support of governors. G&T Update offers suggestions as to how and why governors can be an ally to those working with G&T

read more

Building an effective team of governors

How can a new team of governors work together to make sure that their efforts produce the most effective results possible? Joan Sallis believes a good team of governors needs to be managed from the start

read more

A year in the life of school governor

Joan Sallis looks back at the successes and obstacles she experienced during a year as a primary school governor, and considers the one ahead

read more

Governing bodies: helping schools be accountable

Does your governing body help your school remain accountable, and therefore more efficient? Stephen Adamson looks at how this should be done

read more

Governors: getting involved in your school's sport

Governors have a great chance to improve pupils opportunities for taking part in physical activity, with the government's school sport strategy read more

A mature governor reflects on 40 years in the education system

After celebrating her 80th birthday, Joan Sallis looks back and makes a plea for stability read more

Secondary school partnerships: the role of governors

Schools and colleges that work in partnership provide a better offer to their students, make faster progress and improve their performance, says Robert Hill read more

Governor participation: getting to know your school

Can individual governors really make a difference? Joan Sallis looks at how and why governors should get under the skin of their school read more

Growing leaders in your governing body

Is there a lack of leadership initiative in your governing body? David Marriott looks at the importance of leadership development for governors read more

Governors and performance management

Michele Robbins asks what issues arise most frequently in governor training sessions, and looks at how governors are responding to changes in performance management read more

Legal basics for teachers: Structure and responsibilities of governing bodies

Mark Blois provides an update and overview on governing body structure and the complex demands made of governors - and possible changes on the horizon read more

Parent governor representatives

Recent research into the experiences of parent governor representatives (PGRs) found confusion over the role, lack of respect and communication difficulties, writes David Gordon read more

Appointing a headteacher - advice for governors

Joan Sallis gives advice for governing bodies on appointing a headteacher read more

Bringing school governors into Circle Time

If you thought that Circle Time was just for children, think again! Jenny Mosley explains why the Whole School Quality Circle Time Model focuses first on enhancing the mental health of the adults read more

Academies: independence and freedom — or state control?

While academies have some characteristics of maintained schools, they retain independent status in law. So which rules apply? Richard Gold clarifies read more

New exclusion rules (part 2): governors and appeal panels

A raft of small changes add up to important new duties for all parties to the exclusion process. Ingrid Sutherland runs through what you need to know, in part two of this series

read more

What are school governors for?

Many of the difficulties faced by governing bodies stem from the unresolved tensions between three competing rationales for their work, writes Alan Dyson read more

When conflicting governor priorities create anxiety

How can governors overcome a perceived conflict between being united on the school's behalf and representing distinct interest groups? read more

Guidance on using biometric technology

Joan Sallis continues her series looking at the issues that concern governors, by focusing on the use of biometric technology in schools read more

Promoting governor and parent partnership

Former headteacher and current chair of governors Mike Walton argues that a closer relationship between parents and governors will benefit the whole school community read more

Effective governance and excellent leadership

Mo Laycock, Headteacher, Firth Park Community Arts College describes the effective model of governance which has contributed to three Ofsted results of 'outstanding' leadership at the school read more

Governor expectations

Joan Sallis tackles another of the issues that are important to governors read more

Extended services – the inside story

Liz Rowbotham looks at how extended services have worked for one community college read more

Engaging governance: teaching and learning involvement

Rather than see governors as a nuisance to be endured, schools instead should be working with them as an invaluable source of help and advice, argues Colleen Arnold of the National Governors Association read more

Expectations of governors

Joan Sallis considers the relationship between the headteacher and governor, and explores mutual expectations and issues of respect read more

Ensuring race equality in education

Professor Kay Hampton looks back on what has been achieved since the Macpherson report, and sets out the contents of a good race equality policy read more

Adapting behaviour policies to new powers

New guidance on behaviour and discipline in schools hit the headlines during Easter 2007 – largely because of its suggestions on the importance of rewarding good behaviour as well as punishing bad read more

Welsh education reaches a new milestone

The National Assembly elections on May 3 2007 marked the completion of the second four-year term of devolved government in Wales. Allan Tait presents some of the key issues facing school governors in Wales read more

Differences between primary and secondary governance

Joan Sallis examines some of the different issues that affect governors in primary and secondary schools read more

A fresh look at reporting and accounting

No organisation can operate effectively without good quality information, provided in good time. Governors need the right sort of information, provided in an accessible format, to play their full part in effective governance. Martin Pounce reports read more

Governor briefing: changes in the focus of education

In two respects the focus of education has shifted in the 2000s. read more

Syndicate content