Information and Guidance

INFORMATION 
We will respond to requests for information and advice by both telephone and email. Each team member has specific responsibilities and we will aim to put you in touch with the right person to answer your question as soon as they are available. Callers need to make clear whether they are ringing for information as an individual, or for advice on behalf of the governing body. We do not offer a helpline to anonymous callers, as we cannot give appropriate advice without at least knowing the name of the school concerned. 

The Department for Children, Schools & Families (DCSF) funds an independent confidential helpline for any governor who wishes to ask for information or discuss concerns. The Governorline number is 08000 722181 and the website is http://www.governorline.info/ (external link)

We also know that governors appreciate written information and advice. We aim to produce publications that will meet the needs of governing bodies for information and which can be reproduced and circulated in the most cost effective way. However, neither the GST, nor schools can afford to supply publications to every governor at their home address. Governors are members of a school’s governing body and it is that body’s responsibility to ensure that its members are kept appropriately informed. Consequently, the local authority will use the school as the main (though not the only) point of distribution. The chair, clerk and link governor have distinct roles in ensuring the dissemination of information to members of the governing body. 

Most of our communications are sent electronically via the ‘school portal’; a secure website for every school in the county. We offer a service of two dedicated email addresses, usually ‘clerk@ (schoolname).cumbria.sch.uk,’ and ‘chair@ (schoolname).cumbria.sch.uk’. This means that key letters and publications can be sent to your chair and clerk without having to access your school’s Internet system. For those clerks and chairs who prefer not to use this email address, notify the GST and your own preferred address can be used. It is, essential that where private e-mail addresses are used, there is proper security in place, and the GST is notified of changes. 

To a lesser extent we will also use ordinary mailings to schools or direct to chairs of governors home addresses for certain critical matters. 

Finally, the Governors’ Briefing  aims to be published sufficiently frequently so that it can provide timely information; checklists of items for your agenda; briefings on new developments and changes in the field of governance and Children’s Services; and notices about additions or amendments to the training programme. The Governors’ Briefingis sent electronically to the school for the headteacher and to the dedicated, non-school email address for the chair and the clerk. Three paper copies are posted to each school for distribution as the governing body sees fit.

Please note that the outcomes of the Strengthening Governance Interim Report consultation have not been incorporated into the new services for 2009-10. Following the consultation, services may change.

Governors' Briefing