Education CommitteeWritten evidence submitted by Durham County Association of Governors

This submission is on behalf of the Durham Association of Governors representing around 3,200 school governors at over 250 schools and academies across the County. We feel very strongly that the current stakeholder model should be retained. It is important to have a wide perspective of views on each school governing body to help make the best decision for our children within the context of its wider community.

The purpose, roles and responsibilities of school governing bodies, within the wider context of school governance and leadership

We feel that recent changes to strengthen the role of school governors in school leadership eg the revised Ofsted Framework, are appropriate and should remain. The governing body needs to undertake their executive role and be able to hold the head to account for outcomes and to be in a position to challenge expectations and ambitions of all those involved in the school to ensure the very best provision.

The implications of recent policy developments for governing bodies and their roles

One thing is sure; education is constantly changing and that is as it should be. It is for that very reason that schools cannot be allowed to operate in an autonomous fashion without the context of other providers. Recent policy developments have seen a more coherent approach to school leadership and the accountability role it has to others. This approach needs to continue.

Recruiting and developing governors, including the quality of current training provision, and any challenges facing recruitment

This is crucial in terms of succession planning and something that is currently well supported by the LA. Where there are issues around recruitment the LA is well placed to help given its county-wide relationships and context of governance in a wider context. The provision of appropriate training and current training is essential if school governors are to be able to perform well in their role. We have a positive relationship with School Governors’ One-Stop Shop.

The structure and membership of governing bodies, including the balance between representation and skills

The current stakeholder model is appropriate and we would advocate a status quo approach. The idea that smaller and more highly skilled governing bodies are better for schools is far removed from the reality of current governance. We should not forget that school governors are volunteers and issues around availability are better handled within the current arrangements for example, given governing bodies need to provide for a first and appeals committee if smaller this would cause significant issues.

The effectiveness and accountability of governing bodies

The clarity of role between the operational function of the head and the executive role of school governors is currently well defined and works well. There is a need to maintain this difference in role to help hold the school to account. Such an arrangement needs to continue. The changed Ofsted arrangements now better hold governing bodies to account using existing judgments made public.

Whether new arrangements are required for the remuneration of governors

Governing Bodies in Durham do consider remuneration to be appropriate and therefore the ability for individual governing bodies to consider it, as is the case now, should continue to allow each governing body to come to a view having regard for the circumstances of the school and its governors.

The relationships between governing bodies and other partners, including local authorities, Academy sponsors and trusts, school leaders, and unions

We have very good relationships with our partners. We have a well established Memorandum of Agreement with the LA and are represented on the Schools Forum, Scrutiny Committee as well as a range of bespoke working groups/committees. We work alongside academy governors and trade union representatives. Any proposals to strengthen such arrangements are welcomed as we accept such relationships may not exist elsewhere.

Whether changes should be made to current models of governance.

As we see it, the current governance arrangements are fit for purpose. We are part of the biggest army of unpaid volunteers in the country and are fully committed to the providing the best opportunities for the children in our schools. Any move to diminish the role of school governors would, in our view, be retrograde and not in the best interest of schools, parents and pupils.

Mrs P Ramshaw
Chair of Durham County Association of Governors

23 November 2012