The Constitution of governing bodies of maintained school – statutory guidance August of-maintained-schools of-maintained-schools Carol Peel Governance Adviser

Main Points - Restated  GBs to be skills based  Governing bodies review their size and effectiveness – does it meet your needs?  All governors to complete a skills audit  To seek to secure the skills needed when electing or appointing governors  Make all prospective governors aware of responsibilities and expectations of the role  All schools reconstituted under 2012 regulations

New  Interviews and references for governor appointing governors  Set up joint committee with another school for complaints, appeals etc.  Meaningful engagement with parents, staff and school community through systems not governor representatives  Publish information about the governing body, pecuniary interests and relationships on the school website

Governor’s Details  Structure of governing body, standing orders and terms of reference for committees  Full names of governors  Term of office, category, appointing body  Relevant pecuniary interests  Governorships of other schools  Relationships to other governors and/or staff  Attendance record at all meetings  Also applies to:  Governors who have left in the last year  Associate members 4

Code of Conduct  All governors aware of the expectation of this information being published  Refusal to provide, could bring the GB into disrepute for not providing the information  The GB may:  Suspend a governor  Remove an associate member

Updated Guidance  GGN 1 – Model standing orders for the governing body and committees of the governing body  GGN 2 – Information to be made available on the school website  GGN 6 – Pre appointment checks for governors and register of pecuniary interest  GGN 17 – A model code of practice for governing bodies