Strong and robust governance is a crucial part of a successful school. Boards are being asked to tackle underperformance, challenge mediocrity, refuse to accept second best for any child and set the highest of expectations. Boards are being held to account by Ofsted and are being asked to demonstrate the impact of their work on improving educational standards in their school. The importance and significance of outstanding governance and leadership across the education system has never been greater.

Governing Body Reviews

Benefits: 

• Boards are equipped to provide clear strategic leadership and ensure robust accountability.
• Boards can easily develop key skills, knowledge and understanding to help navigate the twists and turns of governance today.
• Governors become more confident in carrying out their roles and responsibilities effectively.
• Governors are equipped to raise achievement through monitoring and evaluating the performance of the school.
• Professional, proactive advisors with up to date knowledge and experience of school, single academy, and MAT governance.
• Boards receive a high quality, professional service, which is competitively priced and represents excellent value for money.

Is a review nessessary?

• It may be sometime since the governing body has undertaken a review.
• There may be a significant change in school leadership i.e. Chair of Governors or the Head teacher.
• The school may be approaching the Ofsted inspection window.
• There are significant local challenges affecting the school.

How will this help?

• Governors will all be involved in reviewing their practice and effectiveness.
• Governors will get a clearer understanding of any challenges or issues.

• A review will provide governing bodies with a report that will offer prioritised actions.

Cost:   £900
To book a review for your governing body, please contact us; [email protected]

Structure of the Review
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The school and governing body will:

• Send FGB agendas and minutes for review. (time period to be agreed by school and reviewer).
• Send any committee agendas, minutes and additional documents that the school would like to be considered with the review.
• Send an outline of the governance structures, committee work programmes and terms of reference. To clearly identify committees and the associated members of each committee.
• Send a current membership list (to include any vacancies).
• Send the last two of the Head teachers reports to governors.
• Send a school development plan and any governor action plans.
• Circulate the governor questionnaire provided and return all completed questionnaires within ten working days of receipt.
• Send any governor training records.
• Where applicable send any previous review of governance.

 
The reviewer will:

• Read recent Ofsted and/or SIAMS reports
• Thoroughly interrogate the school website and identify any areas for development or that are non-compliant.
• Check Ofsted parent view.
• Review all document received and annotate and produce a summary review of the documentation received.
• Send a questionnaire to the school to be circulated to all governors (to include HT and staff members).
• Arrange to speak directly to identified members of the governing body.
• Contact the school to establish the key areas for discussion during the review.
• Option to attend at least one FGB meeting either virtually or in person depending on the way in which meetings are being held.

 
Methodology

• Reviewer(s) to arrange Zoom meetings (or any other online platform) with HT and CoG and any interested/available governors or members of SLT.
• Agree the scope of the review and identify high priority areas that need addressing.
• Agree the timescale for the review, including roles and responsibilities.

• Reviewer will send any policies, links and advice to the school promptly.
• The governing body will receive a draft action plan and agree the priorities.
• Reviewers will identify any further training and support.
• Address additional work identified during the review or document review.
• Draft report sent to CoG and HT for factual accuracy check.
• Final approved version to the HT and CoG.