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The core purpose of the Governor Support Team (GST) is to provide information, advice, support and training to schools’ governing bodies to help them fulfil their statutory responsibilities for strategic governance.
In recognising the differences in capabilities between governing bodies, GST attempts to balance the need for core training in the generalities of governance, and for more tailored support direct to individual schools. Therefore, there are six key components in the service that we offer:
Non chargeable
· Administration– a service accessed by telephone or email to our administrative team.
· Information – a service accessed by telephone, email and through our main publication, the Governors’ Briefing(five issues per academic year). There is currently no charge for this service.
· Differentiated Support– provided to schools on the basis of the level of support required, as identified in each school’s Annual Review of School Performance (ARSP). Only those schools requiring the most support can access this service free of charge.
· An Introduction to Governance – We all recognise the importance of support and development for new governors and they will be well catered for. We offer support in a number of ways with a day conference, and a choice of two two-hour lunchtime or evening sessions covering the main roles.
Chargeable
· Training Programme – offered to any school that wishes to attend at venues around the county for which a subscription is normally paid. Associate Members and clerks are also welcome to attend.
· Tailored Support and Consultancy– open to an individual school or cluster of schools that wishes to take advantage of the expertise of the Governor Development Officers (GDOs) on a wide range of governance matters. This service includes the Governing Body Self Review (GBSR).
The menu on the right will lead you to more detailed information on the services we provide.
A document has been produced that provides a summary of the range of indicators that governing bodies should become familiar with as part of their self-evaluation process. It also suggests ten questions that could be used to initiate the discussions that governors should be having with the headteacher and school staff.
"Key Monitoring Indicators For Governing Bodies" is provided as a summary resource. It is expected that new governors, particularly chairs, will find it a helpful guide. Working with the headteacher and senior staff, the governing body will be able to build a clear and comprehensive picture of how well the school is doing.
Key Monitoring Indicators for Governing Bodies
Many governing bodies book Tailored Support and Consultancy Sessions which cover topics specifically needed by them at the most convenient time. Excellent for team building and developing skills and knowledge as a group.
More information about Tailored Support and Consultancy Sessions
NATIONAL GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION [NGA]
For 2009/2010, GST has offered to facilitate schools’ membership of the NGA; the national voluntary body, run by governors for governors, to support governors and governing bodies and represent their interests. NGA is growing in size, in influence and in the range of what it has to offer to governors and governing bodies: there are now some 2000 schools members. It relies on membership support to operate.
Standard governing body membership of NGA costs £60 per year, which provides:
- The NGA weekly e-mail newsletter for all members of your governing body
- Copies of the NGA magazine ‘Matters Arising’ delivered to the home address of three members of your governing body with two additional copies delivered to the school, six times a year
- Members’ log-in access to support, advice and training material on the NGA website
- Discounts off NGA publications
- A free place at NGA conferences
- Voting rights
Cumbria Governors Council (CGC) has operated as a countywide organisation of governing bodies independent of the LA and run by volunteers, supplying representatives to various bodies and working closely with local officers. It has been the local link with NGA. A group of governors are to revive CGC in the autumn, based initially on schools in membership of NGA. There will be no local subscription in the first year at least.
The subscription fee is an eligible charge against your Standards Fund allocation.
Workforce Remodelling - For information and guidance documents on Remodelling the School workforce please use the following link:
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