1. WELCOME Being a Local Governing Board What does this mean
House Keeping
Introduce my-self and my role
Ask who is a new governors (split tables)
Ask who has been to meeting
Go through Induction Pack

2. Roles and Responsibilities
In all types of schools, governance should have a strong focus on three core strategic functions:
Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
Holding the school’s leadership to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils
Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent
To ensure the school provides the best possible education for its pupils.
This ‘core role’ focus applies at ALL levels of governance,

3. Possible Level/Structure of Reporting
House Keeping
Introduce my-self and my role
Ask who is a new governors (split tables)
Ask who has been to meeting
Go through Induction Pack

4. Question
What is your understanding of your role as governor in a/your Local Governing Board (LGB)?

5. Roles and Responsibilities
What is a LGB?
Individuals who sit on local governing bodies (LGBs) are referred to as ‘local governors’.
This is because trustees can delegate governance functions to the local level. Trustees have complete discretion over what is delegated to each LGB. They may, for example, decide to delegate all functions
Trustees should be satisfied about the local governing body’s ability to adequately perform any functions delegated to them.
How will you know what functions are delegated to you the LGB?

6. Possible Level/Structure of Reporting
HOW DOES WHAT ?
House Keeping
Introduce my-self and my role
Ask who is a new governors (split tables)
Ask who has been to meeting
Go through Induction Pack

7. Why do we have a scheme of delegation ?
The board of trustees is accountable for the functions it has delegated. Therefore, it is important that it is aware of what is happening in each school. The MAT should have a scheme of delegation that sets out which functions have been delegated and how the local governing bodies will report back to the board of trustees.

8. Scheme of delegation – What is it
Sets out the governance and management structures for the MAT.
Sets out the rules for operation and code of conduct for the MAT’s governance, including for the Local Governing Board.
Sets out who makes the decisions for what:
Members / Directors / LGB / Accounting Officer / Headteacher etc

9. Example delegation table
Key: A = provide advice and support to those accountable for decision making

10. Core role 1: Strategic partner
What does this role look like for the LGB, in the wider context
Who is responsible for:
Vision, ethos and values?
Key priorities for school improvement?
Policies?
Leadership appointments?

11. Core role 2: Support and challenge
Governance enhances school leadership by providing support and challenge.
Governors hold the headteacher to account for the impact of the school’s work on improving outcomes for all pupils.
(Ofsted)

12. The challenge/support cycle
Recognising and celebrating the achievements of the school.
Recognising where the school is not achieving as it should.
Encouraging strategies to bring about school improvement, and ensuring funds / resources are aligned accordingly.
Monitoring the effectiveness and impact of these strategies - OVER TIME

13. Support and challenge in a MAT
How does the Trust ensure statutory compliance at school-level?
How does LGB report to the MAT on progress in the school’s key priority areas?
What is the process for Headteacher’s appraisal?

14. Core role 3: Financial probity
How does the core role of ensuring that ‘funds are well spent, and in alignment with the key priorities’, happen in the MAT?
How is the annual budget plan approved?
How is expenditure monitored over time?
What are the communication and reporting lines, to ensure that both benchmarking/local issues (input) and the evaluation of impact (output) are informing budget planning and decision making?
How are staff pay decisions made?

15. Accountability and reporting
Local Governing Boards are effectively sub-committees of the Board of Directors/Trustees. The overall accountability for governance remains with the Board of Directors/ Trustees. – How will ofsted know?
Where a remit, decision or responsibility is delegated to the LGB, there is a statutory duty for the LGB to report back to the Directors on the actions it has taken under that delegation, and why.
These reporting arrangements should be specified in the scheme of delegation.

16. Question What are/could be evidence as reporting resources?
Are there or could there be a risk of duplication at the different levels of meetings?

17. Example reporting proforma
Accountable for:
SOMETHING and TO SOMEONE
ON POST-IT NOTES PER TABLE SPEND 10 MINUTES DISCUSSING THE TWO QUESTIONS.
WRITE YOUR TOP THREE ON POST-IT NOTES
ASK FOR ANSWERS PER TABLE AND DISCUSS

18. Resource of Information
Accountable for:
SOMETHING and TO SOMEONE
ON POST-IT NOTES PER TABLE SPEND 10 MINUTES DISCUSSING THE TWO QUESTIONS.
WRITE YOUR TOP THREE ON POST-IT NOTES
ASK FOR ANSWERS PER TABLE AND DISCUSS