INDUCTION COURSE

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INDUCTION COURSE

• ON BEING A GOVERNOR

Marie ODonoghue
October 2012
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Introduction - Objectives

• By the end of the Induction Course,
• governors should-
• have an appreciation of roles and
  responsibilities of Governors
• know how Boards of Governors carry out their
  functions.
• understand what makes effective governors and
  effective schools

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What do you think the role of a governor is?
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The Role of The Board of Governors

• The role of the Board of Governors is to manage
  the school with a view to providing the best
  possible education and educational opportunities
  for all of the pupils. This involves
• Setting the strategic direction for the school
• Taking corporate decisions in relation to the
  statutory functions of the Board of Governors.

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Key Resources

• Scheme of Management
• Governors Handbook-
• Every School a good school
• http//www.deni.gov.uk/
• ELB training
• ELB,CCMS,NICIE and CNaG contacts

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Governor Induction
INTRODUCTION Whos who on the Board of
Governors? The role responsibilities of
Governors? Features of effective
Governors Characteristics of effective
Schools How Boards of Governors Operate How
Governors play their part What Governors can
expect of the Principal Conclusion Questions
Board Rep Appointed by the Education and Library
Board Transferor Rep Representing mainly the
churches nominated by the churches Trustee
Rep Nominated by the legal Trustees DE
Rep Nominated by the DE Parent Rep Elected by
parents of pupils at the school Teacher
Rep Elected by permanent teaching
staff Principal Non-voting member of Board of
Governors
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Constitution of a Board of Governors
Primary Governors- 9 4 Transferor Reps
2 ELB/DE Governors 2 Parent Reps I Teacher
Governor
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Board Of Governors
Post Primary 16 6 Transferor Reps 4 ELB/DE
Governors 4 Parent Governors 2 Teacher Governors
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Board Of Governors
Nursery 8 5 ELB/DE Governors 2 Parent Governors 1
Teacher Governors
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How a Board of Governors operates

• Number of meetings
• Quorum
• Withdrawal
• Sub committees/Working Parties
• Principals role
• Chairpersons role
• Decisions

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Annual Report

• Governor Membership
• Financial Statement
• Curriculum and Assessment
• Attendance
• Admissions Policy
• SEN

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The Core Function of Education

• To ensure that every learner
• fulfils his or her full potential at
• each stage of her or his
• development.
• (Every School A Good School, A Policy for School
  Improvement, 2009)

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Breadth of Role

• Finance
• HR
• Health and Safety
• Child Protection
• Building Management
• Curriculum and Standards
• Best interests of the pupils

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Training

• Induction
• Recruitment Selection of Staff  
• Recruitment Selection of Staff (Refresher)  
• Cred
• Financial Management Accountability
• Freedom of Information, Data Protection, Records
  Management Information Security
•  
• Every School a Good School Development Planning
• 3 April 2012 - 2.00-4.30 pm Ulidia Resource
  Centre
•  
• Count, Read, Succeed
• 23 January 2012 - 2.00-3.30 pm Ulidia Resource
  Centre
• 15 March 2012 - 6.30-8.00 pm Ulidia Resource
  Centre
•  
• Developing a Policy for Dealing with Critical
  Incidents
• 8 February 2012 - 2.30-4.30 pm Ulidia Resource
  Centre
• 21 February 2012 - 6.00-8.00 pm Ulidia Resource
  Centre
•  

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Training

• Managing Attendance
• Every School a Good School-Development Planning
• Count, Read, Succeed
• Developing a Policy for dealing with Critical
  Incidents
• Safe Guarding and Child Protection for School
  Governors

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Working In a Team

• Nolan Principles
• Selflessness
• Integrity
• Objectivity
• Accountability
• Openness
• Honesty
• Leadership

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How a Board of Governors Operates- Code of
Practice

• Confidentiality
• We will observe complete confidence when required
  or asked to do so by the governing body,
  especially regarding matters concerning
  individual staff or pupils.
• Although decisions reached at Governor meetings
  are normally made public through the minutes or
  otherwise, the discussions on which decisions are
  based should be treated as confidential.
• As a matter of trust we will not discuss the
  views of fellow governors with members of the
  public outside our meetings.
• We will exercise the greatest prudence if a
  discussion of a potentially contentious issue
  affecting the school arises outside the governing
  body.

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How a Board of Governors Operates

• Meetings Agenda
• Minutes Committees
• Chairperson Vice-Chairperson
• Secretary Working Parties
• Discussion Decisions

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Features of Effective Governors Effective
Boards of Governors

• Working as a team
• Good relationships with the principal
• Effective time management and delegation
• Effective meetings
• Knowing the school
• Awareness of current education policy
• Maintaining confidentiality
• Training and development
• Collective responsibility

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Workshop Activity

• What Makes a Good School?

You will have about 10 minutes to discuss this
question in groups You should elect a Chairperson
and Reporter to feedback your views.
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Characteristics of A Good School

• Child Centred Provision
• High Quality Teaching Learning
• Effective Leadership
• A School Connected to its local community
• Reference Every School a Good School (DE Policy
  April 09)

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Role and Responsibilities of School Governors in
relation to safeguarding

• Role
• The best interests of children are of primary
  consideration and you should ensure that the
  necessary safeguarding measures are in place to
  make all pupils feel safe and protected in your
  school environment

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Role and Responsibilities of School Governors in
relation to safeguarding

• The safeguarding role must be integrated with the
  following areas of your responsibilities
• Pastoral Care Policies, Training, Recruitment,
  and Consultation requirements

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Child Protection Strand 1
Governors have statutory obligations to keep
children safe. These slides provide essential
information for ALL Governors. Your Principal
and Designated CP Governor have specific
responsibilities.
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Statutory Duties Of School Governors in relation
to safeguarding

• Education and Libraries ( NI ) Order 2003
• Articles 17, 18 and 19 places duties on Governors
  to
• Safeguard and promote the welfare of registered
  pupils at the school
• Have a written Child Protection Policy and
  ensure it is implemented

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Statutory Duties Of School Governors in relation
to safeguarding

• Specifically address the prevention of bullying
  in school discipline policies
• Good Practice recommendation
• Nominate a designated governor for child
  protection who should not be the teacher
  representative or parent representative

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Roles and Responsibilities of Chair and
Designated Governor

• Chair of board of Governors is involved in
• managing any complaints or allegations
  against members of school staff
• Chair will work with Designated Teacher in
  managing any complaints/allegations against the
  Principal
• Designated Governor will be kept informed about
  complaints/allegations

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DE Circulars in relation to safeguarding

• Circular 99/10 Child protection policy and
• procedures
• Circular 06/06
• Safer recruitment practices for education
• authorities
• Circular 06/07
• The employment of substitute teachers

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DE Circulars in relation to safeguarding

• Circular 06/08
• The requirement for child protection training in
• relation to interviewing and selection panels
• Circular 2012/19
• The vetting of paid and unpaid staff
• Circular 2012/19
• (superseding circular 06/25)
• The requirement for vetting of school governors

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DE Circulars in relation to safeguarding

• Circular 2008/03
• Responsibility for undertaking criminal
• background checks belongs to Access NI
• Circular 2008/10
• Substitute Teachers must be booked online
• via NISTR

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Resources for School Governors in relation to
safeguarding

• The Child Protection Support Service for
  Schools (CPSSS) has developed a specific Handbook
  for all School Governors in relation to their
  safeguarding role

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Case Study

• Working in groups, identify incorrect procedures
  by underlining them. It may be useful to
  reference these to the Scheme of Management.

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INDUCTION COURSE

• ON BEING A GOVERNOR

Adminstrative Support Mary Coyle 028
90564297 Mary.coyle_at_belb.co.uk Coordinator Marie
ODonoghue 028 90564295 Marie.odonoghue_at_belb.co.u
k
Thank you for attending