Governance Case Studies

The ‘National Leaders of Governance – East of England‘ have recently published 3 case studies that will be of interest to Herts Governors:

School to School Governance Support in Luton

This case study, written by Craig Smith, NLG Central Beds, discusses a soft federation of seven secondary and one 11-18 special school, called Luton Futures, working collaboratively together to improve outcomes for learners. The federation has been in operation since 2011 and has developed real impetus – so much so that after starting as a Heads forum it further developed with LFIGs (Luton Futures Improvement Groups) designed to focus in on and support specific areas. These LFIGs were developed from 2012 onwards and focused on areas such as Teaching and Learning, Literacy, Data, SEN, Behaviour, Business Managers. In 2013 the model was extended to cover Governance and an LFIG Governors Group was set up – to offer peer to peer support to the Chairs of Governors of the eight schools and to support leadership development across the federation.

Read the full article here.

Teaching school alliance support for governance in Suffolk

Written by Victoria De Naeyer, this study discusses Samuel Ward Academy Trust, a multi-academy trust with a family of academies in Suffolk. The trust consists of 3 secondary academies, 3 primary academies and a special school. The Suffolk Borders Teaching Alliance was established in September 2015, led by Samuel Ward, and is made up of 15 schools in the locality. Samuel Ward has embraced its responsibilities for school to school support and system leadership as it relates to governance and is really having an impact on raising governance standards across its trust and wider teaching school alliance.

Read the full article here.

Developing governance system leaders in Hertfordshire

Written by our own Kathy Dunnett, this study discusses the evolutionary process from the creation of Herts Leaders of Governance, through to National Leaders of Governance and leading on to Strategic Leaders of Governance; this latter group has grown from a small kernel of 6 in 2012 to nearly 40 now helping schools in Hertfordshire to meet their objectives.

Read the full article here.

12 July 201512 July 2015

Hemel Roadshow hits the papers

The Hemel Roadshow recently attracted interest from the local newspaper ensuring that the message gets spread even further. hemeltoday reported the event as follows:

Governors roadshow comes to Hemel Hempstead – Mike Scandrett, chairman of the Herts Association of School Governors is 2nd on left.

A school governor recruitment roadshow will be stopping off at the Volunteer Centre in Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead, on Saturday, June 27.
Schools and academies are being rallied with the support of the Hertfordshire Association of School Governors (HASG) and Herts for Learning, to recruit people for their governing bodies.
The district of Hemel Hempstead has been identified as having recruitment problems currently, which is why HASG are delighted that the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Robert Mclean and MP Mike Penning are supporting this event, to raise the profile of the role and encourage people to volunteer.
Mike Scandrett, chairman of the Hertfordshire Association of School Governors said:
Being a governor is not just about attending meetings. It is much more about being part of your local school and local community while making a contribution towards the development and learning of young people who are the citizens of tomorrow. Governors are there to ensure that schools are run well, to shape their future and that children thrive and enjoy learning. Being part of that is a reward in itself. Be proud to be a governor. I am.
As a school governor you are part of the strategic leadership team for the school. You will steer the school vision, aims and objectives, ensure financial best value and support and enable the staff to provide an excellent learning environment. Could you be a school governor?
If you have the time and commitment to help improve the education of the pupils in your chosen school
If you are prepared to attend governors’ meetings and visit the school
If you are prepared to attend training to ensure that you fully understand your role then you would make an ideal school or academy governor.
There has already been a successful event in Stevenage earlier in June, when local MP Stephen McPartland said:
It is really important we get people with the right skills to volunteer as School Governors. It is an incredibly rewarding position and makes a massive impact on the quality of education locally. School Governors work closely with staff to ensure the resources are available to make a difference to every child’s education and help them succeed in life.
If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a school or academy governor, email kathy.dunnett@nullhertsforlearning.co.uk or alternatively check out the websites at www.hertsdirect.org/governors or www.hertsgovernors.org/

10 April 201510 July 2015

Training Times – March 2015

The March edition of Training Times is now in schools, with a spotlight on Herts for Learning’s science and MFL teams.

The link to the online version can be found here: Training Times March

This HfL monthly newspaper has something for governors and staff based in schools, whether looking for a little light reading on current educational news or for courses to further your professional development.

This edition includes:

“Grit Gets Grades” – a look into the new focus on character education and what two Hertfordshire schools are doing to give pupils grit
Science and MFL – how can these teams support you? An introduction to the Lead advisers for Science (Joanna Conn) and Modern Foreign Languages (Jackie Rayment), their background and priorities.
Dame Carol Ann Duffy, Britain’s Poet Laureate, entertained at HfL’s national poetry conference, “The Power in Poetry: Language as Play” in March.
The Early Years pupil premium – School Leaders said they were inspired at HfL’s “Ready for Early Years Premium and Ofsted Inspection of Early Years” conference in February.
HfL’s new SBM service – headed by Natalie Dalvarez, the service aims to support school improvement, raise teh profile of SBMs and help standardize a role that is still new to many schools.

…and much more!

If your chair of governors would like to receive extra copies for the governing body please get in touch. We welcome any feedback or content suggestions for future editions.

Please contact HfL journalist Jessica Broadbent at jessica.broadbent@ hertsforlearning.co.uk with your feedback or if you would like your school to be included.

9 July 2015

Training Times – July 2015

The July 2015 edition of Training Times is now in schools, with a spotlight on mental health, Exchanging Excellence and our Vulnerable Groups Achievement team alongside the usual HfL and schools’ news.

The link to the online version can be found here: http://bit.ly/TT-July15.

This edition includes:

mental health – the pressures facing young people:
‘Homework ban to save pupils from depression’, read one headline in The Times last month; ‘Give children a good start in life’, pleaded top national mental health organisations to the new government in the wake of the general election.
new Head of School Recruitment Services has now joined HfL:
Justine Hammond joined HfL on 1st July.
Exchanging Excellence – an impressive journey from RI to outstanding at Brockswood:
The school is one of the first in the country to move straight from RI to outstanding between only two inspections under the current framework.
HfL’s first Investor in Parents award winners, Newberries Primary:
Anna Traxon, Headteacher, commented “We are delighted to have been awarded with Investor in Parents status and to be the first school in Hertfordshire to receive the accolade.”
National Conference for school business managers:
Organised by HfL last month, this national conference on the topic of being creative and inspirational during times of challenge & change, had three keynote speakers and 12 workshops.

…and much more!

Changes ahead

Following feedback from the recent Training Times survey, we are currently reviewing and refreshing the format, content and name of this publication for September.

If your chair of governors would like to receive extra copies for the governing body please get in touch. We welcome any feedback or content suggestions for future editions. Please contact our Journalist Jessica Broadbent at jessica.broadbent@nullhertsforlearning.co.uk with your feedback or if you would like your school to be included.

7 July 2015

CBI asks Ofsted to assess character

CBI leader calls for Ofsted to assess character education

John Cridland, director general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), has argued that school inspections should focus on whether schools are producing “well rounded people” rather than exam outcomes.

Speaking to an audience of academics, Cridland said that:

changing the inspection framework to ensure an equal focus on how schools are supporting the development of key attitudes and behaviour as on the more traditional academic measures would be a good first step in producing the well rounded young people business needs.

The Secretary of State for Education, Nicky Morgan, has emphasised previously her commitment to character education and the Department for Education announced the recipients of funding from its character grants scheme last week.

For more discussion of how governors can ensure their school is promoting their pupils’ personal development, see this recent Governing Matters article: Character education (NGA Membership required to access).

26 June 201529 June 2015

Governance is on the radio!

David Owen - The Discovery Show — David Owen – The Discovery Show

Governance is on the radio!

On Friday 26 June, between 4 – 6 pm David Owen (Governance Trainer and Disc Jockey) will be playing an interview recorded with Kathy Dunnett, in her role as Vice Chair of Herts Association of School Governors) talking about governance and how to be a governor. It will be played around 4.45 – 5pm.

The station is internet based and you can listen via:

There will be a catch up of the interview online via the show’s webpage after Friday:

www.davidowen.org.uk/the-discovery-show

If anyone knows anyone with a fascinating story or passion for a subject, David is always looking for people to interview!
Contact David Owen on thediscoveryshow@nullgmail.com

22 June 201522 June 2015

UKGovChat – What’s That?

What is UKGovChat?

UKGovChat is a weekly Twitter discussion normally taking place between 8:45 and 9:15 every Sunday evening, providing a home for Governors to learn, share, challenge and support each other and improve the governance of all of schools to the benefit of the children and young people. From the original concept being born in 2013, well, as the website says:

Exactly a week later #UkGovChat was born, delivered to over 400 eager followers in a fast and furious chat encompassing “top tips” for new governors and the biggest challenges to effective governance.

The website remains totally independent of any government or commercial interest. To find out more visit UKGovChat at ukgovchat.wordpress.com, search Twitter for hashtag #ukgovchat or follow the group @UKGovChat. The site also has an impressive list of inks to a range of useful blogs and archives of weekly chats going back to 2013. Recent chats were on subjects such as:

What is the GBs responsibility as far as Health and Safety is concerned?
What are your hopes for the newly announced Foundation for Leadership in Education?
What is your school doing about the DfE challenge of ‘character education’?
What is a Coasting School?
What will inspection of governance look like under the new framework? Ofsted Special with Sean Harford.
Your Hopes and Fears for the Next 5 Years.

Some recent news updates from UKGovChat

[rssonpage rss=”https://ukgovchat.wordpress.com/feed/” feeds=”5″ excerpt=”true” target=”_blank”]

19 June 2015

New Statutory Duties – July 1st 2015

Schools should be aware that they have a new statutory duty from 1st July 2015 to have due regard to the need to prevent people being drawn into terrorism. (Schools should be alert to issues around staff, pupils and parents).

The Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015 was published on 12th March 2015. Section 26 of the Act places a duty on schools in England (and Wales) to prevent people being drawn into terrorism. This duty applies to all schools, whether publicly-funded or independent, and organisations covered by the Early Years Foundation Stage framework. Statutory guidance has been published. See:

Prevent Duty Guidance (PDF download)

Schools leaders (including governors) must:

establish or use existing mechanisms for understanding the risk of extremism,
ensure staff understand the risk and build capabilities to deal with it,
communicate and promote the importance of the duty,
ensure staff implement the duty effectively.

Other duties on schools include:

effective partnership working with other local agencies, eg. LSCB, police, health, etc.,
information sharing,
maintaining appropriate records,
assessing local risk of extremism (including Far Right extremism),
demonstrating they are protecting children,
developing clear protocols for visiting speakers,
safeguarding policies that take account of LSCB policies and procedures,
training staff to give them knowledge and confidence,
ensuring there are robust ICT protocols that filter out extremist materials,
school buildings must not be used to give a platform to extremists.

Ofsted are responsible for monitoring how well schools are implementing this duty.

12 June 2015

Governor Recruitment at County Hall

Governor Recruitment Roadshow Comes to County Hall

Schools and Academies from across Hertfordshire were rallied with the support of the Hertfordshire Association of School Governors (HASG) and Herts for Learning, to recruit people for their governing bodies. They held a Governor Recruitment Event last Tuesday, a close event for the staff at County Hall in Hertford, and there are other events planned for the Apsley site and Farnham House, Stevenage which will take place later in June.

If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a school or academy governor, email kathy.dunnett@nullhertsforlearning.co.uk or alternatively check out the website at www.hertsdirect.org/governors.

Mike Scandrett, Chair of HASG chair@nullhertsgovernors.org.

11 June 2015

Governor Recruitment – Stevenage

Deputy Mayor Councillor John Lloyd and volunteer from Homerswood School, Letchworth.

Deputy Mayoress, Councillor Mrs Joan Lloyd with Michael Scandrett, Chair of Hertfordshire Association of School Governors, and governor volunteers from Stevenage Schools

Local MP Stephen McPartland and Kathy Dunnett, Vice Chair from HASG and local potential recruit.

Governor Recruitment Roadshow Comes to Stevenage – 6th June, Daneshill House

Schools and Academies in the Stevenage area were rallied with the support of the Hertfordshire Association of School Governors (HASG) and Herts for Learning, to recruit people for their governing bodies. They held a Governor Recruitment Event last Saturday at the Council Offices in Stevenage Town Centre; and there are several other events which will take place throughout June in other areas across Hertfordshire.

The district of Stevenage has been identified as having recruitment problems currently, which is why HASG are delighted that the Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayoress, Councillor John Lloyd CC and Councillor Mrs Joan Lloyd and the local MP Stephen McPartland supported this event, to raise the profile of the role and encourage people to volunteer.

Mike Scandrett, Chair of the Hertfordshire Association of School Governors stated…

Being a Governor is not just about attending meetings. It is much more about being part of your local school and local community while making a contribution towards the development and learning of young people who are the citizens of tomorrow. Governors are there to ensure that schools are run well, to shape their future and that children thrive and enjoy learning. Being part of that is a reward in itself. Be proud to be a Governor. I am.

As a school governor you are part of the strategic leadership team for the school. You will steer the school vision, aims and objectives, ensure financial best value and support and enable the staff to provide an excellent learning environment. Could you be a school governor?

If you have the time and commitment to help improve the education of the pupils in your chosen school
If you are prepared to attend governors’ meetings and visit the school
If you are prepared to attend training to ensure that you fully understand your role

Then you would make an ideal school or academy governor!

Mike Scandrett, Chair of HASG chair@nullhertsgovernors.org