NCOGS report Looking back Looking ahead

Who are we? David MarriottChair Linda LissimoreSECOGS Phil HandWMCOGS Martin PounceERCOGS Sue PagliaroTreasurerY&HCOGS Bridget SinclairVCSWCOGS Barry PiercyGovernorth Andy KentNWCOGS Ann FosterLCOGS Brenda SteelNSIG

COGS - a joined up organisation NCOGS and NSIG vision, purposes and plans Governorth Yorkshire and Humberside ERCOGSLCOGSSECOGSSWCOGS West Midlands COGS NWCOGS

NCOGS and NSIG VISION High quality governance of schools and other learning settings secured by effective challenge and support from Governor Services NSIG Purposes 5-7 Plan 2: 1-7 NCOGS Purposes 1-4 Plan 1: 1-2

NCOGS NCOGS - the national committee - is the body that represents the eight regional networks for co-ordinators of Governor Services in England. It exists in order to: influence and initiate national policy associated with governance issues identify common themes and issues emerging from the regions and use these to inform national priorities represent the regions in discussions with national agencies ensuring that the views of the regions are effectively reported communicate the outcomes of meetings with national agencies to the regions in a timely and appropriate manner

NSIG NSIG – the National Service Improvement Group – is accountable to NCOGS and exists in order to: collate information to support the continuous improvement of local authority Governor Services encourage and support the professional development of individual co-ordinators of Governor Services and other governance professionals working in local authorities. disseminate good practice in training, development of materials and operational practice of Governor Services, including advice and guidance on commissioning and collaborative arrangements

Strategic plan NCOGS Focus Represent regional groups and influence national policy on governance Activity 1 Develop an effective and influential relationship with NGA Activity 2 Improve the flow of relevant information from NCOGS to regional groups and vice versa NSIG Focus Support the development of COGs and their teams in order to strengthen school governance Activity 1: Strengthen chairing Activity 2: Strengthen clerking Activity 3: Strengthen partnerships Activity 4: Strengthen COGS Activity 5: Strengthen professional challenge Activity 6: Strengthen recruitment Activity 7: Strengthen governance in academies and independent schools Activity 8: Publish the manifesto and ensure continued development of its key components

NCOGS report Key points: Significant changes to membership Reshaped plan and priorities NGA our most important partner Influencing national policy National reports and recommendations BTECs

Emerging issues Conference 2011 Data COGS under threat – responding positively and creatively Leaders not victims

What you told us You have been through a lot of change recently and expect more to come Most striking is the high proportion of you whose responsibilities have increased and those teams which have been relocated – not necessarily a negative development but undoubtedly disruptive You expect more change – more responsibility, more reductions to team membership and relocation 27% of you are likely to leave your post in the next 3 years You tell us many interesting stories of complex and stressful experiences - and some accounts of more positive changes – but these are in a minority

Looking ahead Comprehensive Spending Review (20 Oct) Education White Paper (Nov)

A Marxist analysis Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies

The Canadian solution Is this a core service? Does the LA need to provide this service? Who else could provide this service? How can we provide this service better? Can we afford this service?

Core service? Governance is enshrined in law as a key guarantor of accountability within a democratic state education system Volunteers need training, advice and support to be effective LAs are obliged to ensure that governors have access to training free to the individual governor

Must LA provide? No – commissioners, not providers Services must be made available to governors Other providers – threat or opportunity?

Who else? Cross-border LA service Independents Dioceses Not-for-profit education companies For-profit companies National bodies New entrants to the market

A better service? Doing more with less Freedom from corporate restrictions Outcomes of this conference Use of data for improvement Develop new services, new and better ways of working Sell to a wider, more disparate market

Affordable? Governors pressures on school budgets priority of own needs economies of scale – collaboration? LAs pressures on LA budgets LA priorities subscription element vs central funding

How can NCOGS best support you? influence and initiate national policy associated with governance issues identify common themes and issues emerging from the regions and use these to inform national priorities represent the regions in discussions with national agencies ensuring that the views of the regions are effectively reported communicate the outcomes of meetings with national agencies to the regions in a timely and appropriate manner collate information to support the continuous improvement of local authority Governor Services encourage and support the professional development of individual co-ordinators of Governor Services and other governance professionals working in local authorities. disseminate good practice in training, development of materials and operational practice of Governor Services, including advice and guidance on commissioning and collaborative arrangements

What should be on NCOGS’ agenda? Develop an effective and influential relationship with NGA Improve the flow of relevant information from NCOGS to regional groups and vice versa Strengthen chairing Strengthen clerking Strengthen partnerships Strengthen COGS Strengthen professional challenge Strengthen recruitment Strengthen governance in academies and independent schools Publish the manifesto and ensure continued development of its key components

NCOGS – fit for purpose? A more mixed economy New: providers; partners; needs and demands; ways of offering services Budget pressures on conference and NCOGS: value for money; expectations Stick to the knitting or throw open the doors? Regional and national decision

More to come... Enjoy days 2 and 3 Share your views with NCOGS Influence my “Strengthening governance” presentation tomorrow