Governor Support

The National Model expects Governor Support to be coordinated regionally from March 2015, with implementation from September. Expectations include a coordinated quality assured training programme and quality assurance of support provided.

Current situation

  • ERW currently meets the required national model expectation, with the coordination and some level of assurance and quality managed through the ERW Governor Support Group.
  • Historically the ERW Governor Support Officer Group has been meeting for approximately eight years and also feed the ADEW group. Until September 2014, the group has functioned largely as a network and discussion arena.
  • The group is chaired by Huw Roberts (NPT) (since September 2014).
  • Since September the group has formulated a plan, progressed on a number of key work streams and work together towards a common goal. Expectations of progress have been clearly set out and consistent progress made.
  • There is variability in the roles played by GSOs across the region, and in the scope of training facilitated.

The current variability means that the direct influence of governors on outcomes or the school’s leadership is not taken into account fully. Schools cannot achieve the yellow or green status in categorisation without having an effective governing body. Estyn inspections are similarly giving key influence to Governing Bodies in the capacity to improve. The school improvement role of governors is not always explicit or prioritised.

Current common strengths

  • A shared programme of training available across the region.
  • A common governor training evaluation - which can be collated regionally to inform further work.
  • A common agreed skeleton agenda for governing body meetings is now in place for adoption by governing bodies.
  • Key identified resources and presentations consistently available.
  • Common induction pack for new governors currently being co-ordinated into a consistent consortium document.
  • Back to basics programme on....
  • self evaluation of the governing body where the group is working to develop a robust evaluation with an aim to categorise governing bodies in line with the current categorisation model
  • performance management of head teachers and teachers – a joint presentation for governors is in place for delivery
  • Work with Challenge Advisors re head teachers’ termly report to governors, in order to agree a template for implementation across the consortium in the autumn term.
  • Implementation of common resources on key ERW priorities: Performance Management, ERW governance; categorisation; school self-evaluation process.

Next steps

Formalise the regional focus of the current programme of governor to governor support through the following common steps:

  • investigating succession planning within the governing bodies regionally in relation to the duration of the term of office of the chair of governors.
  • reviewing the use of a governor E-Learning training programme for some aspects of delivery.
  • create a single ERW governor training programme, with local, hub and interhub delivery accessed via the ERW website.
  • to further develop the training evaluation process to investigate the long term effectiveness of training.
  • use new ERW website to place all resources and common programme in a well situated, visible place.
  • highlight the role of Governor Support in the Ladder of support and intervention as we categorise schools.
  • build support for governors into the regional menu of support to schools.
  • planning a more co-ordinated programme for 2015-16, with bespoke elements according to need, delivered in some cases on a school to school basis.
  • provide support documentation on the role of governors in school improvement and leadership.

Recommendations

*identify a lead Challenge Adviser to have oversight of governor support at either Hub level, to monitor local and hub delivery, to liaise with LA delivery teams maximising and improving communication between GSOs and Challenge Advisers. This allows Hubs to take a common approach - but to add the responsibility to a current role or reorganise roles.

*to strengthen and formalise the communication links between governor support officers and challenge advisors.

* use and make explicit the links to Governor Wales, where relevant, to avoid duplication.

* deliver the basic elements noted above consistently well across six LAs.

* include support to governors as part of the Ladder of Support and intervention.

*governor to governor – developing a programme of governor and governing body mentoring in cases where the governing body is seen to be struggling to understand and strategically lead school improvement.