INDUCTION CHECKLIST FOR NEW GOVERNORS & ALLOWANCES

Author:	Chair of Governors Updated:	March 2016 Approved by:	Curriculum & Policies Committee Next review:	March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that new Governors become familiar with:-

Elmwood School and its community

Procedures relating to the governance of Elmwood School

The general roles and responsibilities of a school governor

The school, its community and governance

In order to become familiar with the school, pupils, staff, governors and the specific operations of the Governing Body at Elmwood, new Governors will have the following support:-

A welcome letter which will include:-

Letter of welcome from the Clerk to the Governors

School prospectus

Governor Handbook

Latest Newsletter

Most recent Ofsted Inspection Report

RAP (Raising Achievement Plan)

Minutes of last Governing Body Meeting

Whistle Blowing Policy

Staffing List

List of School Policies

Current Budget Analysis

The scheme for financing schools document is available and Governors are encouraged to read this to ensure that the School is compliant with the rules and regulations. Please contact the Clerk to the Governors for a copy which can be sent electronically if preferred.

New governors are invited to visit the School and meet staff and pupils as well as have a tour around the building and its facilities.

General Roles and Responsibilities of a School Governor

For all Governors, especially those who have not acted as a School governor before, the following support is available:-

Walsall Governor Support

Walsall Governors Association

National Governors’ Association

Governors are also able to access the Governor Training programme run by Walsall Governor Support. Course details are contained in the Walsall Governor Newsletter circulated termly.

‘An Introduction to being a Governor’ is an induction course for new Governors and is really useful as it explains in detail the roles and responsibilities of a School Governor.

Another useful source of information is the website – www.governornet.co.uk which contains lots of valuable information, including a jargon buster section where you can make sense of some of the terminology used.

Governors Expenses

Governors of Elmwood School will be entitled to claim the actual costs, which they incur as follows:

Governors will be able to claim allowances providing the allowances are incurred in carrying out their duties, as a Governor or representative of Elmwood School, and are agreed by the Chair of Governors that they are justified before any reimbursable costs are incurred.

Governors will be able to claim for the following, on a case-by-case basis and with the prior approval of the Governing Body:

Childcare or babysitting allowances (excluding payments to a current/former spouse or partner);

Cost of care arrangements for an elderly or dependent relative (excluding payments to a current/former spouse or partner);

The extra costs they incur in performing their duties either because they have special needs or because English is not their first language;

The cost of travel relating only to travel to meetings/training courses at a rate of 46.9 pence per mile (as at September 2012) which does not exceed the specified rates for school personnel;

Travel and subsistence costs, payable at the current rates specified by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, associated with attending national meetings or training events, unless these costs can be claimed from the LA or any other source;

Telephone charges, photocopying, stationery, postage etc

Any other justifiable allowances.

The Governing Body at Elmwood School acknowledges that:

Governors may not be paid attendance allowance;

Governors may not be reimbursed for loss of earnings.

Governors wishing to make claims under these arrangements, once prior approval has been sought, should complete a claims form (obtainable from the School Office), attaching receipts where possible, and return it to the School when they will be submitted for approval by the Chair of Governors and Head Teacher. In the case of the Chair of Governors making a claim, this will be approved by the Head Teacher and Clerk to the Governors.

Claims will be subject to independent audit and may be investigated by the Chair of Governors (or Chair of Finance in respect of the Chair of Governors) if they appear excessive or inconsistent.

(copy of claim form is attached as an appendix).

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR THE GOVERNING BODY

AT ELMWOOD SCHOOL

Introduction

The following is not a definitive statement of responsibilities but is concerned with the common understanding of broad principles by which the Governing Body and individual governors will operate.

The Governing Body accepts the following principles and procedures: -

General

1. We have responsibility for determining, monitoring and keeping under review the broad policies, plans and procedures within which the school operates.

2. We recognise that our head teacher is responsible for the implementation of policy, management of the school and the implementation and operation of the curriculum.

3. We accept that all governors have equal status, and although appointed by different groups (i.e. parents, staff, LA) our overriding concern will be the welfare of the school as a whole.

4. We have no legal authority to act individually, except when the governing body has given us delegated authority to do so.

5. We have a duty to act fairly and without prejudice, and in so far as we have responsibility for staff, we will fulfil all the legal expectations as, or on behalf of, the employer.

6. We will encourage open government and shall be seen to be doing so.

7. We will consider carefully, how our decisions may affect other schools.

Commitment

8. We acknowledge that accepting office as a governor involves the commitment of significant amounts of time and energy.

9. We will each involve ourselves actively in the work of the governing body, attend regularly and accept our fair share of responsibilities, including service on committees or working groups.

10. We will get to know the school well and respond positively to opportunities to involve ourselves in school activities.

11. We will consider seriously our individual and collective needs for training and development.

Relationships

12. We will strive to work as a team.

13. We will seek to develop effective working relationships with our head teacher, staff, parents, the LA, other relevant agencies and the community.

Confidentiality

14. We will observe confidentiality regarding proceedings of the governing body in meetings and from our visits to school as governors.

15. We will observe complete confidentiality when required or asked to do so by the governing body, especially regarding matters concerning individual staff or students.

16. We will exercise the greatest prudence if a discussion of a potentially contentious issue affecting the school arises outside the governing body.

Conduct

17. We will encourage the open expression of views at meetings, but accept collective responsibility for all decisions made by the governing body or its delegated agents. This means we will not speak out against decisions, in public or private, outside the governing body.

18. We will only speak or act on behalf of the governing body when we have been specifically authorised to do so.

19. In making or responding to criticism or complaints affecting the school we will follow the procedures established by the governing body.

20. Our visits to school will be undertaken within the framework established by the governing body, in agreement with the head teacher and staff.

21. In discharging our duties we will always be mindful of our responsibility to maintain and develop the ethos and reputation of our school.

Suspension

22. If the need arises to use the sanction of suspending a governor, we will do so by following the Procedures Regulations so as to ensure a fair and objective process.

Removal

23. We recognise that removing a governor from office is a last resort, and that it is the appointing bodies which have the power to remove those they appoint.

If the need arises to use the sanction of removing a governor, we will do so by following the Constitution Regulations so as to ensure a fair and objective process.

Information relating to Governing Body membership together with photographs is available on the School Website.

Appendix

Elmwood School: Governing Body

Governors’ out-of pocket expenses claim form

Governing bodies are allowed to pay expenses necessary for the performance of members’ duties as governors. These may, for example, include;

Travel and subsistence payments

Child care and similar expenses

Telephone charges, photocopying and stationery

Loss of earnings expenses cannot be paid. All expenses paid to governors will be reported in the Annual Parents’ Meeting Report.

Name of Governor: _______________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________________

Date of governors’ meeting ________________________________________

Meeting attended ________________________________________

Expenditure incurred

Travelling Expenses (If Public transport please supply receipt. If claim is for car mileage this will be paid at a rate of 46.9p /mile).

Journey from _______________ Journey to ______________ Single or Return? ___

Total miles _____________ ___ X 46.9 pence = £ __________

Public transport claim (Please state amount and attach receipt) £__________

2. Child care expenses (Please state hours x hourly rate and attach receipt)

Hours ________________ X Hourly Rate _____________ = £ __________

Other Expenses (Please specify and attach receipts)

_____________________________________________ £ __________

Total claim _____________________________________________ £ __________

I certify that the above expenses were actually and necessarily incurred by me in undertaking my duties as a governor of School

Signed _______________________________________ Date ___________________

Authorised _______________________ (Head teacher) Date ___________________

______________________________(Chair) Date ___________________

Paid By ____________________ ( ) Date ____________