To ensure the governing body is able to provide effective challenge and hold the headteacher and other senior leaders to account for education provision:
ActionNo / Task/Action / Responsible person / Cost / Target date / Success criteria / Evidence
1/17 / Governors establish the skills currently available to the GB by completing a skills audit / Clerk and governors / Nil / July 2017 / The completed exercise shows skills of existing governors and indicates what skills new governors should bring. The audit drives all future governor recruitment campaigns and vacancies are quickly filled.
Skills audit report is included in evidence portfolio. / All Governors completed a form at FGB 13 July 2017
2/17 / Nominated governor to collate the responses / Governor to collate / Nil / September 2017 / Complete and reported back to FGB in September 2017 meeting.
3/17 / Governors review the Constitution and if necessary define and approve amendments / Governors / Nil / July 2017 / The GB has a new constitution, which ensures there are sufficient governors to make governance effective. / 13/07/17 New Governor constitution agreed reducing elected parents to 2 and increase co-opted to 8.
4/17 / To review our new governor induction process / Clerk/Chair/last new governor / Nil / November 2017 / Induction pack ensures new governors are able to be effective team players quickly.
Allocate adequate time for the governing body to review their own progress and evidence of effectiveness:
ActionNo / Task/Action / Responsible person / Cost / Target Date / Success Criteria / Evidence
5/17 / Draw up a Governors’ Action Plan with reasonable but timely target dates to support the governing body’s move to effective governance. / Governors / Nil / July 2017 / Governors prioritise their actions in RAG rated plan, which is reviewed at each FGB meeting, and any slippage challenged. / First draft produced June 2017
Agreed at Governors meeting 13 July 17.
6/17 / Governors use the new Governance Competency Framework, in small sections, to provide agenda discussion points at each GB meeting / Chair and clerk / Nil / September 2017 / Governors work is shaped by the new Framework leading to evidence of meeting or exceeding the competencies / Meeting held on 22 September 2017 to review whole document. Draft taken to FGB September 2017
7/17 / A group of 3 governors take ownership of producing a ne evidence portfolio tracking the evidence of governor effectiveness / Small working party of 3 governors / Nil / October 2017 / Governors have produced a portfolio of evidence of impact for the next inspection / Shelly and Karen Powell started document October 2017.
Document completed December 2017
8/17 / Three Governor mornings to be scheduled into each year allowing all governors to review the progress of governance effectiveness, visit school with themed monitoring activities and engage in training activities / Chair and all governors / Nil / July 2018 / All governors attend at least two of the three sessions and monitoring has been effective / 3 meetings scheduled for:
30th November 17
22nd March 18
21st June 18
9/17 / Make changes to the Minute taking to ensure challenge is clearly recorded and decision making and impact clear. / Chair and clerk / Nil / October 2017 / Minutes provide clear evidence of governance effectiveness / Minutes of July, September, October show high level of challenge
Review ways of increasing visits to school:
ActionNo / Task/Action / Responsible person / Cost / Target Date / Success criteria / Evidence
10/17 / Increase commitment to governor visits. All governors commit to visiting school at least once a term (6 in total). Vice chair co-ordinates the visits to ensure monitoring is completed in a managed way. / Vice Chair / Nil / March 2018 / Governors with increased knowledge about the importance of governor visits complete regular visits.
They record their observations and are able to assess impact. Monitoring visits are programmed and are effective / All governors this term have made visits to school.
11/17 / Training on visits and writing visit notes provided to all governors in induction pack / Nil / February 2018 / Visit notes evidence the impact of visits and outcomes
12/17 / Link or champion roles are allocated to pairs of governors and reports from these areas are built into the annual management plan. / Chair / Nil / July 2017 / Governors are working in pairs to monitor key areas. They meet co-ordinators and lead members of staff, attend relevant training and report back to governor colleagues regularly. / All Governors allocated a champion area at governors meeting 13/07/17
Increase governor continued professional development:
ActionNo / Task/Action / Responsible
Person / Cost / Target date / Success Criteria / Evidence
13/17 / Governors establish current CPD requirements by completing a governor training audit / Clerk/
governors / Nil / October 2017 / The results of the skills audit influenced a programme of internal and external training for governors.
Governors develop a wide range of additional skills from participating in developmental activities. / Circulated at FGB October 2017
Complete Nov 2018
14/17 / Governors to be more informed about training opportunities. Governor training to be part of each agenda and governors encouraged to commit at the meeting to attending on behalf of the GB courses in the following term / Chair / Nil / January 2018 / Started January 2018
15/17 / Governors cascade training undertaken / All / Nil / March 2018 / Training notes submitted since November 2017
Raise the accountability for standards:
ActionNo / Task/Action / Responsible person / Cost / Target date / Success Criteria / Evidence
16/17 / Ensure all governors understand national reporting systems and their relevance to the special school setting / Headteacher / Nil / December 2017 / Governors understand the national reporting system and school’sown tracking system and therefore are able to rigorously and confidently challenge data / Chair joined book scrutiny
Report to FGB with governors submitting questions for next meeting
17/17 / Governors receive training in house on school assessment and tracking system / Deputy Head / Nil / December 2017 / Oct November and December meetings
18/17 / Increase governor knowledge of pupil premium. Governors to receive regular presentations on the pupil premium, its use and impact / School Business Manager/
Headteacher / Nil / December 2017 / Governors are fully aware not only of the way monies are spent but the difference it makes to standards and attainment / November meeting agenda item – governors presented questions in advance.
Promote the role and responsibilities of governors:
ActionNo / Task
Action / Responsible person / Cost / Target date / Success Criteria / Evidence
19/17 / Review and improve the governance pagesof the website to promote the role and impact of governance / Clerk/Chair / Nil / March 2018 / Website shows list of governors with a brief description of their responsibilities. The site is fully compliant but also includes an online evidence portfolio. / Website updated September 2017
20/17 / Communicate more effectively to all stakeholders by each governor writing a short piece for the school newsletter once a term / Governors / Nil / March 2018 / Parents and staff receive regular updates on the progress of the governing body in holding school to account. / Piece in July and October , December newsletters
Being strategic – outstanding and beyond..
ActionNo / Task/Action / Responsible person / Cost / Target date / Success Criteria / Evidence
21/17 / Governors work with staff and parents and young people to create a new vision for 2018-21 / All / Nil / December 2017 / The vision is produced in partnership with all stakeholders and everyone signs up to it
22/17 / Maintain a watchful eye on academy status / All / Nil / July 2018 / That any way forward determined is the right way for Brook Green / Quay Partnership currently being our preferred route to work collaboratively
23/17 / Develop and extend links with the Quay Partnership school / All / Nil / March 2018 / Governors develop links with other special school colleagues / Training session held after initial launch. Next session November on finance.
24/17 / Governors take ownership for working with the school calendar and supporting events whether social or training opportunities / All / Nil / March 2018 / Governors become an integral part of school life
Date : January 2018
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