Recommendation Form for the Appointment of a Diocesan Foundation Governor in a

VA/VC School or an Academy

School / VA/VC

Personal Details

Surname / Title
Forename/s
Address
Postcode / Telephone
Date of Birth / Email
Occupation
Religion/Denomination
Place of worship
Frequency of attendance e.g. weekly, monthly, occasionally / Are you confirmed? / Yes/No
Contribution to Church life e.g. PCC member, help run Sunday School
If you do not fulfil all of the above criteria please support your nomination by telling us what other qualities you would bring to the governing body.

Skills Sets (please tick which skills you feel you bring to the post)

Knowledge

National Education Policy / Understanding Church of England Context
Primary School Experience / Understanding of Church Schools
Secondary School Experience / Local context

Governance Experience

Previous governance / Good Governance Practice
Number of years served / Engagement with School and wider community
Chairing / Partnership Working
Raising aspiration through vision

Governor Roles Currently or Previously Held

Curriculum / Finance
Health & Safety / Pay & Personnel
Child Protection / SEN
Premises / Other

Other Relevant Experience:

General Management / Financial Planning medium to long-term
Project Planning & Management / Legal
Arbitration/Negotiation / Health & Safety
Risk Management / Performance Management
Capability/Disciplinary processes / IT
Compliance with Policies, Regulations and Inspections / Marketing/PR/Media
Identification of funding opportunities & bidding experience / Monitoring & Evaluation – Policies, Finances, Plans, Outcomes
Education / HR

Other (Please specify)……………………………………………………………………………………………………

Have you served on this Governing Body before?
If yes, for how long? / Representing?
In the case of a re-appointment please give details of all governor training undertaken in the last 4 years:
Type of training / Provider / Date
Please name other schools/academies where you are a governor
Do you have a child in the age range of this school?
If yes, does he/she attend this school?
Does a relative or someone you live with serve on this governing body?
What contribution would you make as a foundation governor to this governing body?

Parish Priest Recommendation

To be completed by your Parish Priest or local minister/church leader and where this is not the local incumbent for the school they should also countersign

Name of Parish Priest and Local Incumbent where applicable
PCC Secretary/Church Warden
Only needed in an interregnum or to endorse the incumbents nomination.
Can you confirm often the nominee attends worship / Weekly / Fortnightly / Monthly / Occasionally / Special Services
Please identify the strengths of your nominee to fulfil the role of foundation governor
Signature of parish priest(s)
Name and Signature of Chair of Governors
Date

DECLARATION

I would like to be a Foundation Governor of this School and if appointed –

I will commit myself to work for the purposes for which the school was established, to provide an education of the highest quality within the context of Christian belief and practice

I will support, sustain and develop the Christian character of the school

I have read the code of conduct for foundation governors and will abide by it.

I am prepared to keep myself up to date with current legislation and good practice and will attend relevant training events

I understand that this appointment is made by the Oxford Diocesan Board of Education for a fixed period and as the appointing body the Board also has the right of removal

Signature of nominee ………………………………………………….Date……………………......

I give my consent for my information to be used by the Oxford Diocesan Board of Education (ODBE) team for legitimate purposes connected to my role as a School Governor including contacting you from time to time with information about training events, publications and news item. / Please tick the box
if in agreement

Data Protection – Our commitment to care for your personal information

Under the General Data Protection Regulations 2018, the ODBE processes data for legitimate purposes as this relates to Governors or former Governors. This will include ODBE contacting you from time to time with information about training events, publications and news items that will be useful to you in your role as a School Governor. We will not disclose or share your personal information with third parties or use such information for other activities such as fundraising purposes without obtaining your consent.

Further information about your rights regarding your personal data can be found at the Information Commissioners website

For further information please contact: Tracy Richardson  01865 208242

Email:

Church House Oxford, Langford Locks, Kidlington, OX5 1GF

Please return completed forms to:PCC Appointments Committee in the first instance

via

Code of Conduct for Foundation Governors

The National Governors’ Association’s Code of Conduct for School Governors 2015 sets out the expectations of and commitment required from governors in order for the governing body to carry out its work properly within the school and the community.

The Governing Body

  • Sets the strategic direction of the school by:
  • Setting the vision, values, and objectives for the school
  • Agreeing the school improvement strategy with priorities and targets
  • Meeting statutory duties
  • Ensures accountability by:
  • Appointing the headteacher
  • Monitoring progress towards targets
  • Performance managing the headteacher
  • Engaging with stakeholders
  • Contributing to school self-evaluation
  • Ensures financial probity, by:
  • Setting the budget
  • Monitoring spending against the budget
  • Ensuring value for money is obtained
  • Ensuring risks to the organisation are managed

The Role of a Governor

  • To understand the purpose of the board and the role of the headteacher.
  • To accept that governors have no legal authority to act individually, except when the board has given delegated authority to do so, and therefore will only speak on behalf of the governing board when have been specifically authorised to do so.
  • To accept collective responsibility for all decisions made by the board or its delegated agents.
  • To have a duty to act fairly and without prejudice, and in so far as have responsibility for staff, will fulfil all that is expected of a good employer.
  • To encourage open government and will act appropriately.
  • To consider carefully how decisions may affect the community and other schools.
  • To always be mindful of our responsibility to maintain and develop the ethos and reputation of the school. Actions within the school and the local community will reflect this.
  • In making or responding to criticism or complaints affecting the school will follow the procedures established by the governing board.
  • To actively support and challenge the headteacher.
  • A foundation governor is committed to ensuring the Christian ethos of the school and to ensure that the distinctive Christian ethos of the school is reflected in the way in which the school is led and managed and meets the needs of all learners.

Commitment

• I am committed to undertaking my role as a governor in a way which reflects Christian beliefs and values

  • I acknowledge that accepting office as a governor involves the commitment of significant amounts of time and energy.
  • I will involve myself actively in the work of the governing board, and accept my fair share of responsibilities, including service on committees or working groups.
  • I will make full efforts to attend all meetings and where we cannot attend explain in advance why I am unable to.
  • I will get to know the school well and respond to opportunities to involve ourselves in school activities.
  • I will visit the school, with all visits to school arranged in advance with the staff and undertaken within the framework established by the governing board and agreed with the headteacher.
  • I will consider seriously my individual and collective needs for training and development, and will undertake relevant training.
  • I accept that in the interests of open government, our names, terms of office, roles on the governing body, category of governor and the body responsible for appointing us will be published on the school’s website.

Relationships

•I will strive to work as a team in which constructive working relationships are actively promoted.

•I will express views openly, courteously and respectfully in all communications with other governors

  • I will support the chair in their role of ensuring appropriate conduct both at meetings and at all times.

•I am prepared to answer queries from other governors in relation to delegated functions and take into account any concerns expressed, and I will acknowledge the time, effort and skills that have been committed to the delegated function by those involved.

•I will seek to develop effective working relationships with the headteacher, staff and parents, the local authority and other relevant agencies and the community. I will also seek to ensure good relationships with the local churches in our community.

Confidentiality

•I will observe complete confidentiality when matters are deemed confidential or where they concern specific members of staff or pupils, both inside or outside school

•I will exercise the greatest prudence at all times when discussions regarding school business arise outside a governing body meeting.

•I will not reveal the details of any governing body vote.

Conflicts of interest

  • I will record any pecuniary interest that I have in connection with the governing body’s business in the Register of Business Interests, and if any such conflicted matter arises in a meeting we will offer to leave the meeting for the appropriate length of time. We accept that the Register of Business Interests will be published on the school’s website.
  • I will also declare any conflict of loyalty at the start of any meeting should the situation arise.
  • I will act in the best interests of the school as a whole and not as a representative of any group, even if elected to the governing board.

Breach of this code of conduct

  • If I believe this code has been breached, I will raise this issue with the chair and the chair will investigate; the governing board will only use suspension/removal as a last resort after seeking to resolve any difficulties or disputes in more constructive ways.
  • Should it be the chair that I believe has breached this code, another governor, such as the vice chair will investigate.

General

  • I understand the purpose of the governing body and the role of the headteacher as set out above.
  • I am aware of and accept the Nolan seven principles of public life: see appendix.
  • I accept that I have no legal authority to act individually, except when the governing body has given me delegated authority to do so, and therefore I will only speak on behalf of the governing body when I have been specifically authorised to do so.
  • I have a duty to act fairly and without prejudice, and in so far as I have responsibility for staff, I will fulfil all that is expected of a good employer.
  • I will encourage open government and will act appropriately.
  • I accept collective responsibility for all decisions made by the governing body or its delegated agents. This means that I will not speak against majority decisions outside the governing body meeting.
  • I will consider carefully how my decisions may affect the community, the church and other schools.
  • I will always be mindful of my responsibility to maintain and develop the Christian character and reputation of the school. My actions within the school and the local community will reflect this.
  • In making or responding to criticism or complaints affecting the school I will follow the procedures established by the governing body.
  • I will abide by the schools Social Media Policy and local arrangements for communication.

Appendix: The Seven Principles of Public Life

(originally published by the Nolan Committee)

Selflessness

Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends.

Integrity

Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might seek to influence them in the performance of their official duties.

Objectivity

In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit.

Accountability

Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office.

Openness

Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands.

Honesty

Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest.

Leadership

Holders of public office should promote and support these principles by leadership and example.

The Committee on Standards in Public Life was established by the then Prime Minister in October 1994, under the Chairmanship of Lord Nolan, to consider standards of conduct in various areas of public life, and to make recommendations.