At Creech St Michael School, we recognise and value the effort taken by members of the governing board who contribute towards our school. We encourage their assistance and acknowledge that many school activities and processes would be at risk if it were not for their help. As a result, we want to make sure that time spent as part of the governing board is productive and enjoyable.
Governing boards must ensure that they meet the following core strategic functions:
This policy outlines what is expected from members of the governing board, including associate governors, and sets out the code of conduct which all members are required to comply with.
Legal framework
This policy has due regard to all relevant legislation including, but not limited to, the following:
This policy also has due regard to guidance including, but not limited to, the following:
Roles and responsibilities
The governing board is responsible for determining, monitoring and keeping under review the policies, plans and procedures of the school.
The governing board has three core strategic functions: to ensure accountability, establish the strategic direction of the school and to ensure financial probity.
Members of the governing board accept that they have no legal authority to act individually, except when they have been given delegated authority to do so.
Governors will only speak on behalf of the governing board when they have been specifically authorised to do so.
Governors will not speak against majority decisions outside the governing board meeting.
Members of the governing board will:
Under no circumstances will governors speak about discussions or decisions outside of governing board meetings.
The governing board will fulfil its duty as an employer, acting in a manner that is expected of a good proprietor.
Governors will respect the role of the headteacher and senior leaders and their responsibility for the day-to-day management of the organisation, never acting in a way that could undermine such arrangements.
Governors will adhere to the school’s rules and polices, and the procedures of the governing board in accordance with the relevant governing documents and law.
When formally speaking or writing in a governing role, governors will ensure their comments reflect current organisational policy even if they might be different to their personal views.
When matters discussed between governors are deemed confidential, or where they concern specific members of staff or pupils, complete confidentiality will be observed both inside and outside of the school.
Members of the governing board partaking in discussions regarding school business outside of governing board meetings will exercise the greatest prudence at all times.
The details of a governing board vote will not be revealed under any circumstances.
Governors accept and consent that in the interests of open and transparent governance, their names, dates of appointment, terms of office, roles, attendance records and any business/pecuniary interests they have, will be published on the school website.
Governors understand that the requirements relating to confidentiality will continue to apply after a governor leaves office.
In the interests of transparency, governors accept and consent to information relating to them, as members of the governing board, being logged on Get information about schools (GIAS) – the DfE’s national database. This information will be given by governors on a voluntary basis but in doing so governors should understand that any information provided to the governing board must be shared with the Secretary of State via GIAS.
Governors will adhere to data protection legislation and trust policy at all times.
The governing board will ensure that appropriate technical and organisational measures are in place across the school to protect any data that it holds.
The governing board is responsible for the school’s overall compliance with the data protection regulations.
All governors will receive comprehensive data protection training at least annually.
Governors will be familiar with, and act in accordance with, the school’s Data Protection Policy, conducting reviews with the assistance of the headteacher and the DPO.
Members of the governing board will access training and support available to fully understand their role and are committed to the amount of time and energy the role involves.
Each member of the governing board will be actively involved in the role and accept their fair share of responsibilities within the governing board.
Full effort will be given to the attendance of meetings.
Where a governor cannot attend a meeting, they will contact the clerk in advance to give their apologies and the reason for their non-attendance.
All relevant training and inductions will be undertaken in a prompt and efficient manner.
Governors will visit the school to undertake agreed monitoring or participate in school events, with visits being arranged beforehand with the headteacher and undertaken within the framework established by the governing board.
The school is committed to the highest standards of ethical leadership as set out in ‘The 7 principles of public life’. All governors will pay due regard to their position of public office and adhere to the following principles:
The chair of the governing board is responsible for ensuring the appropriate conduct and behaviour of governors at all times.
The governing board will seek to develop open, honest and effective working relationships with the headteacher, staff members and parents at the school, as well as any other relevant body, such as the LA.
Members of the governing board will continuously strive to work as a team.
Governors will always express their views openly, in a courteous and respectful manner.
The governing board will acknowledge the time, effort and skills demonstrated in the execution of delegated functions by other members of the board.
Governors will take into account any concerns expressed about their delegated function and will be prepared to answer queries from other governors regarding their role.
When making decisions, governors will carefully consider how their decisions and actions might affect those who are part of the school community and wider locality.
Governors will always act in the best interests of the school and its pupils; governors will not act in a manner that will bring the school into disrepute.
Members of the governing board will act in the best interests of the school at all times and will not act in the interest of, or as a representative of, any group or individual.
Governors will record in the Register of Pecuniary Interests Policy any pecuniary interests that they might have in connection to the governing board’s business.
Interests of those related or closely connected to a governor will be declared on the Register of Pecuniary Interests Policy.
Members of the governing board will declare any interest they may have in an item of business on the agenda and will immediately remove themselves from the meeting while it is under discussion.
Any conflict of interest will be declared at the start of any meeting, should the situation arise.
All members of the governing board will take an active interest in the school and its community.
All governor visits to the school will be undertaken in line with the Governor Visit Policy.
Governors will strive to actively participate in the school community and will respond to opportunities to be involved in school activities and events.
If a member of the governing board breaches this code of conduct, the issue will be raised with the chair of the governing board, who will investigate the concern. In the event that it is believed the chair has breached this code of conduct, another member of the governing board will undertake the investigation.
The governing board will only suspend or remove a governor from their post as a last resort.
The governing board will attempt to resolve any difficulties or disputes in a constructive manner before suspension or removal is considered.
If the need arises to suspend a governor, the governing board will ensure a fair and objective process by implementing the following procedure:
A governor who has been removed from the governing board has the right of appeal. The governor should exercise their right of appeal by writing to the clerk to governors within ten working days of their removal from the governing board, making clear the reasons for their appeal.
On receipt of an appeal, the governing board will establish an independent appeal panel. The appeal panel will comprise a panel of three governors and membership may include a governor from another school or an appropriate representative from the LA.