1. Derek Balaam – November 2009

2. Where Can We Start?  Strategic Overview  Critical friend  Accountability Focus on school improvement; standards; ECM (inc. safeguarding); performance

3. Quote from Ofsted Guidance 2009  “...The governing body (should have) the capacity to meet the school’s needs and is influential in determining the strategic direction of the school.”

4. Governing Body “MOT”  Membership and Vacancies  Vetting  Chair & Vice-Chair  Clerk  Committees inc. Terms Of Reference  Minutes – Full GB and Committees

5. MOT continued  Calendar  Nominated Governors (e.g. SEN, Child Protection)  Visits and Reporting Back  Code Of Practice  Policies

6.  Ofsted Report  School Improvement Partner (SIP) Report  School Development/Improvement Plan (SDP)  Self-Evaluation Form (SEF)  Budget  Staffing Structure  RAISEonline (School Report Card)  Policies

7. What might a really poor, dysfunctional governing body look like? Ideas..............

8. Meetings are chaotic! No agendas or papers arrive before meetings, and the head’s report is more like a promotional speech extolling the virtues of the school. The chair seems unconcerned, but you are concerned that standards are slipping. What might you do? (Resignation not allowed!)

9. Some possible starting points  School Improvement Plan  Ofsted Report  Statutory Responsibilities (SEF)

10.  Strengths And Weaknesses  Student Performance  Teaching And Learning  Strategic Development  Leadership

11.  Relentless Pursuit Of Improvement  Holding Leaders To Account (Challenge)

12.  Standards  Attainment  Trends  Targets  Comparisons  Value-Added  Performance Management (Staff)  High Expectations

13.  Leaders Communicate With Governors About Standards and Achievement  Reports Not Just Descriptive But Evaluative  Governors Scrutinise And Probe  Report Back On Agreed Actions  “How Can We Do Better?”

14. What might the best response be?

15.  Identify Needs  Fill those vacancies!  Identify Tasks/Roles  Skills Audit  Share The Load  Learning & Development  Accountability Of Governors

16.  Statutory Responsibilities  GB contribution to quality of provision

17. 1. What does your governing body do well? 2. Can you give an example of an area where improvements have been made? 3. What did Ofsted say about your governors, and what have you done about it? 4. How might your governing body improve further?

18. Critical areas  Equality Of Opportunity  Outcomes for Groups Of Pupils  Safeguarding

19. Specific area for governance “The effectiveness of the governing body in challenging and supporting the school so that weaknesses are tackled decisively and statutory responsibilities are met.”

20. Outstanding Or Inadequate? How could you meet the criteria for “outstanding”?

21. There must be evidence that the governing body is carrying out its functions. What sort of evidence might there be?

22. 1. Where are we now? 2. Where do we want to get to? 3. How can we get there?

23. Questions? derek@balaam79.eclipse.co.uk