Foundation Governors. Whilst all governors of church schools are tasked with upholding and promoting the deeply Christian character of the school, it is the particular responsibility of foundation governors to take the lead in this area of school life. The DBE expects foundation governors, in line with the requirements of SIAMS, to regularly monitor and evaluate the impact and effectiveness of the school’s Christian vision, values and ethos on the life and work of the school community. Foundation governors are also expected to ensure that appropriate action is taken, based on the findings of this monitoring activity. Foundation governors will be held to account by SIAMS for the outcome of governors’ regular monitoring in this regard at the time of a school’s inspection. Foundation governors are, usually, either appointed by the Parochial Church Council (PCC) or by the DBE. A school’s Instrument of Government will set out how foundation governors are to be appointed in each individual school. In a VC school, foundation governors will make up 25% of the full governing body. In a VA school, foundation governors must be in the majority. For further advice on structures of governance, please contact the EOE. The protocol for the appointment and reappointment of foundation governors by the DBE is set out on pages 14-16. Individual PCCs have their own appointment and reappointment protocols, although advice from the DBE will be given, should it be requested. Further information and advice about PCC-appointed and Ex-officio foundation governors is set out on page 16. The Diocese of Worcester Governance Agreement Through its Governance Agreement, the Worcester DBE seeks to enable all individual governors and full governing bodies to fulfil their roles with growing confidence and expertise. The Governance Agreement sets out the DBE’s commitment to: • have high standards in respect of governor appointments, reappointments and practice, to ensure that church school governance attracts individuals who are aware of and committed to the requirements of the role • offer training and support which enables individual governors and full governing bodies to meet these standards with ease in a nurturing context, so that governors flourish in their roles through opportunities to learn and be equipped • establish and maintain regular and effective communication with governing bodies and Clerks to enable the smooth exchange of information for the benefit of the school communities which they serve. In accepting the position of governor in a Church of England school in the Diocese of Worcester, individuals agree to carry out their duties in line with principles set out in the Governance Agreement and to avail themselves of the training and support offered by the Diocesan Education Team. All training offered centrally by the Diocesan Education Team is free of charge for governors. Bespoke training events at individual schools can be arranged at the rates set out in the Training and Support SLA. Further information regarding training is set out on pages 17-18.
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Samples: Governance Agreement, Governance Agreement, Governance Agreement
Foundation Governors. Whilst all governors of church schools are tasked with upholding and promoting the deeply Christian character of the school, it is the particular responsibility of foundation governors to take the lead in this area of school life. The DBE expects foundation governors, in line with the requirements of SIAMS, to regularly monitor and evaluate the impact and effectiveness of the school’s Christian vision, values and ethos on the life and work of the school community. Foundation governors are also expected to ensure that appropriate action is taken, based on the findings of this monitoring activity. Foundation governors will be held to account by SIAMS for the outcome of governors’ regular monitoring in this regard at the time of a school’s inspection. Foundation governors are, usually, either appointed by the Parochial Church Council (PCC) or by the DBE. A school’s Instrument of Government will set out how foundation governors are to be appointed in each individual school. In a VC school, foundation governors will make up 25% of the full governing body. In a VA school, foundation governors must be in the majority. For further advice on structures of governance, please contact the EOE. The protocol for the appointment and reappointment of foundation governors by the DBE is set out on pages 14in Agreement One (pp. 13-1615). Individual PCCs have their own appointment and reappointment protocols, although advice from the DBE will be given, should it be requested. Further information and advice about PCC-appointed and Ex-officio foundation governors is set out on page 16. School Governance The Diocese of Worcester Governance Agreement Through its Governance Agreement, the Worcester DBE seeks to enable all individual governors and full governing bodies to fulfil their roles with growing confidence and expertise. The Governance Agreement sets out the DBE’s commitment to: • have high standards in respect of governor appointments, reappointments and practice, to ensure that church school governance attracts individuals who are aware of and committed to the requirements of the role • offer training and support which enables individual governors and full governing bodies to meet these standards with ease in a nurturing context, so that governors flourish in their roles through opportunities to learn and be equipped • establish and maintain regular and effective communication with governing bodies and Clerks to enable the smooth exchange of information for the benefit of the school communities which they serve. In accepting the position of governor in a Church of England school in the Diocese of Worcester, individuals agree to carry out their duties in line with principles set out in the Governance Agreement and to avail themselves of the training and support offered by the Diocesan Education Team. All training offered centrally by the Diocesan Education Team is free of charge for governors. Bespoke training events at individual schools can be arranged at the rates set out in the Training and Support SLA. Further information regarding training is set out under Agreement Two (pp. 16-17). All governors must provide confident, strategic leadership, in accordance with the three core functions as outlined in the DfE’s Governance Handbook (January, 2017): ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction; holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the performance management of staff; and overseeing the financial performance of the organisation, ensuring its money is well spent. It is the responsibility of all governors to ensure that they are aware of the expectation of the DfE, by familiarising themselves with the most up-to-date Governance Handbook and Competency Framework for Governance. Eligibility within the DBE foundation governor application forms (pp. iii-xiv). All governors of Church of England schools and academies in the Diocese of Worcester are expected to behave in a way which is in line with the school’s Christian vision and values, with the National Governors Association’s Governors’ Code of Conduct, the Church of England’s Vision for Education and the Worcester DBE’s Vision Statement. Individuals nominated to undertake the role of a DBE foundation governor are required to complete an application form (Appendix 5) and a skills audit. The skills audit will enable the applicant to assess their skills against the requirements for governors as set out in the DfE’s Governor Handbook (January, 2018), and to clarify the specific contribution which they are able to make as a foundation governor to the school’s governing body. Approval must be given for the appointment by the PCC and the school’s governing body. The application form and skills audit, along with the extract of governing body minutes relating to their nomination, must then be returned to the Diocesan Education Team, whereupon it will be presented to the DBE for approval. Individuals currently employed at a school cannot be appointed as a DBE foundation governor for that school, but are welcome to offer themselves as a foundation governor at another church school. Following receipt of these completed documents, the application will be analysed by the EOE and the Diocesan Director of Education (DDE). A recommendation will be made to the DBE and, subject to approval by the DBE, the applicant will be appointed for a term of four years as a foundation governor. New DBE foundation governors will receive a letter of confirmation from the Chair of the DBE, which sets out the term of office and the expectations of the DBE. One such expectation is that new governors will attend the Being a Governor in a Church School training course once appointed, and that they will keep up-to-date with statutory requirements and the requirements of SIAMS through regular attendance at other diocesan training courses. The Training and Support Service Level Agreement details all diocesan training. Training offered through the SLA changes on pages 17an annual basis. Copies of the current SLA are available from the Diocesan Education Team on request (xxxxxxxxx@xxxx-xxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx). Enclosed with the letter of confirmation will be an agreement form and a training events booking form which need to be completed and returned to the EOE. The letter of confirmation will be copied to the Clerk to Governors, for the attention of the Chair of Governors. DBE foundation governors wishing to be reappointed to serve a second term must follow the aforementioned process. However, in this instance, foundation governors must complete and return the reappointment application form (Appendix 6) and the reappointment skills audit. In addition, prior to reappointment, the foundation governor will be required to submit their training record and attendance record to the EOE. In line with the new DBE foundation governor appointments, individuals currently employed at a school can no longer be re-18appointed as a DBE foundation governor at that school. A statement of support will be required from the Chair of Governors as part of the reappointment application form (p. xii). If the reappointment relates to the Chair of Governors, the statement of support will be requested from the ex-officio foundation governor. If the reappointment relates to the Chair of Governors who is also the ex-officio foundation governor, the statement of support will be requested from the Headteacher. The statement of support must include details of further training which the Chair / Ex-officio foundation governor / Headteacher believe would be of benefit to the applicant. As previously stated (p. 6), if reappointment documentation is not received by the DBE before a foundation governor’s term of office expires, on expiry the governor must be temporarily removed from the Governing Body, until the DBE has approved the reappointment. Foundation governor appointments made by individual PCCs will follow locally agreed protocols. However, the DBE recommends that PCCs follow the guidance set out on the previous page for PCC-appointed foundation governors. The DBE foundation governor advert for PCCs (Appendix 7) can be used to support the search for new foundation governors. Further advice for PCCs regarding church schools and foundation governors are available from the EOE. In order to equip governors in the fulfilment of their responsibilities, the Diocesan Education Team offers the following support. Attendance at diocesan training courses is offered free of charge to all governors of Church of England schools in the Diocese of Worcester. All courses are held at the Old Palace unless otherwise stated. The Training and Support Service Level Agreement details all diocesan training. Training offered through the SLA changes on an annual basis. Copies of the current SLA are available from the Diocesan Education Team on request (xxxxxxxxx@xxxx-xxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx). Surgeries at the Old Palace are offered to all governors on the first Thursday of every month between midday and 4pm. These are a ‘drop-in’ service and members of the Diocesan Education Team will be on hand to answer queries, to help with school and governance self-evaluation, and to offer a listening ear. Appointments are not necessary; however, if you wish to speak with a specific member of the team on the day, it is recommended that you call in advance to check they will be onsite. Please call 00000 000 000 to check staff availability during Surgeries. It is an expectation of the DBE that every Governing Body is represented at the termly governors’ cluster meetings. In addition to the free centrally-run training for all governors, bespoke in-school training sessions can be arranged for governors of schools which have purchased the Diocesan Training and Support SLA, making use of the school’s allocated 15 hours of support. For governors of schools which have not purchased the Diocesan Training and Support SLA, bespoke in-school sessions can be arranged at a cost of £350 for a full day, £225 for a half day, £150 for a 2.5 hour session, or £100 for a 1.5 hour session.
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Samples: Governance Agreement
