SCHOOL GOVERNORS
With the
government’s
‘root and
branch’ review
of school governance,
Carrie Dunn looks at
what the future holds
‘
N ESSENTIAL public service
A
in which there is massive
investment of public money
should not be in the hands of
untrained volunteers, however
well-meaning,” declared the
NASUWT’s Chris Keates,
speaking last year of school governors.
Her strongly-worded opinion triggered a prompt
response from schools chief Ed Balls, who promised
a “root and branch review” of the current school
governance structure.
Ms Keates’ assertion about lack of training may be
The future
unfounded, bearing in mind the plethora of courses on
which new governors are booked and of course the
wealth of experience they bring from the outside world.
Yet with such harsh words coming from a teaching
union, it is no wonder that governor volunteers are few
and far between.
A recent survey from the University of Bath,
commissioned by Business in the Community (a
membership organisation that encourages businesses
of governors
to have a positive impact on society), suggested that 45
per cent of schools struggle to find suitably qualified
governors, leaving 40,000 vacancies in England alone.
The research found that respondents thought the role of
governor seemed “overloaded” and “over-complicated”, by Ofsted to be “inadequate”, governing bodies fail to He told SecEd: “Failing schools tend to fail because a secondary school for children with severe learning
and that the achievements and hard work of governors monitor the school and do not hold leaders to account. of a lack of governance – perhaps performance hasn’t difficulties and autism. He told SecEd: “I’m not a
were too often overlooked. A secondary teacher for 20 years, Steve Smith was been scrutinised carefully enough.” parent, but I’ve always valued the education I received
Mr Balls has said that good governors are a key deputy head of a technology college before leaving to Mr Smith thinks that how you deal with the burden at school, and so it seemed right to give something
element in turning around underperforming schools go into industry. During his career, he had three different of governance depends on what kind of person you are: back.”
and raising standards, and is supported by government governor roles – staff governor, sponsor governor, and “Being a governor is an onerous responsibility. People Mr Betts was previously involved with various
figures suggesting that in schools which are judged parent governor at his children’s junior school. who become governors become acutely aware of their education initiatives through work, including an
responsibility, and they’re either comfortable with that external secondment working in education and skills
Union address: NAHT
or they’re not.” development for the UK aerospace industry. He
If people are not comfortable, they will not put explained: “This experience deepened my appreciation
themselves into the firing line, resulting in today’s of how much we rely on today’s children to ensure our
numbers crisis, and throughout Mr Smith’s terms as wellbeing and economic success in the future.”
Time to trust schools
governor, there were recruitment challenges. And since becoming a governor, Mr Betts’
He said: “Schools tend to struggle in the same appreciation for the importance of schools has grown.
way that they struggle to recruit teachers, regardless He continued: “I get to work with many talented
Mick Brookes
trails, the less time there is for innovation and of whether they are in an urban or rural setting and motivated people – both staff and governors – and
creativity in the classroom and in the school. The – sometimes the local population are just not geared up it’s really rewarding and humbling to see our students
says that it is time
vision for 21st century schools, with its accompanying to be involved.” develop and to realise that I had a small part to play in
legislation, promises yet more of the same, more Maureen Macleod, chair of governors at Wilberforce their success.”
form-filling, more scrutiny and addition to the army Primary School in Yorkshire, finds that in her area Being a governor can also help individuals progress
to put our trust
of scrutineers that all have to be paid for out of people are happy to devote the necessary hours to in their career. Mr Smith was voted in as a teacher-
Education UK’s funding pot. This diverts resources helping the school succeed. She said: “I find that parent governor after an election, and served for nine years.
in schools and teachers
away from the cutting edge of pupil progress – the He said: “I had a much better understanding of
classroom. the school and the local authority, as well as issues of
– failure to do so will
Before his departure, Lord Adonis said that he governance and everyday management. Staff are often
would like to see state education look more like the not actually clear about what governors do – we’re not
private sector. Apart from the obvious ripostes of representatives, we are there as ourselves. I think it was
hamper the capacity for
funding levels and selective intakes, it is also evident critically important in my development.”
that the private sector does not have an army of people A key concern is the problems of managing finances,
improvement
telling them what to do, when to do it, and checking
‘
It’s time we
thought about
which often concerns governors, particularly those not
compliance. So, on these matters we might agree.
recruiting people who
used to balancing budgets. One former governor, a
With regard to pupil behaviour, heralded journalist by profession, decided to resign his post
THE WORKFORCE reform programme was legislative change is likely to add to the burden, for
bring something new
partly because of these worries. He said: “I’m glad I did
introduced in answer to problems in the recruitment instance, with the recording of the use of restraint, the role, as it gave me an insight into the real difficulties
and retention of teachers. There is real success, both probably yet more insistence on recording and
to the table, and create
involved in running a school – the constant budget
as a result of these reforms and the promotion of monitoring, and yet more bureaucracy that may well worries were scary.
teaching as an attractive career, although finding negatively affect the ability of schools and teachers “However, as principal breadwinner for my family,
teachers for some subjects is still difficult. However, to deal with behaviour that disrupts the learning
a body of people with
I just didn’t have time or energy to do it long-term. I
it is still the case that around three out of 10 teachers of others. Schools must have robust systems in basically agreed to become a governor as the school
leave the profession in the first few years according place to support teachers in dealing with disruptive
different skillsets
was under threat of a disastrous merger and I knew that
to a survey conducted by the NASUWT union. The behaviour. Where that behaviour is generated by having a journalist as a governor would help. I got some
reasons most quoted for departure are bureaucracy the existence of learning difficulties, the capacity to great press coverage which I think contributed to the
and pupil behaviour. respond must follow the shibboleth of inclusion. governors are generally easy to recruit because they’re local authority scrapping the merger.
Despite the fact that there is downward pressure The outcome of low-trust systems is the interested in the wellbeing of their children and the “However, then it just seemed to be a case of long
on administrative tasks and an entitlement to planning generation of micro-management from the centre input they can give.”
’
meetings at which there were half a dozen people who
and review time, teachers are still apparently beset and punitive accountability measures. All of this is However, as a former human resources professional, had been governors for years and knew all the ropes,
with administrative tasks that erode the privacy of energy-sapping and diverts attention away from what she agrees that there needs to be a review of who staffs and me who just pitched in the odd comment. I also
personal time. really counts; giving students creative classroom governing bodies and how they are chosen. didn’t want to take on extra duties that were being
Unfortunately, although the practical remedy has experiences which will light up learning for them She said: “I do think there’s an opportunity to build touted – such as running sub-committees.”
now been in place for more than five years, the and will generate learning for life. skill levels of governing bodies. There’s generally no Despite these issues, Mr Smith is vehement about
culture remains the same. Lack of trust drives the The Bill-makers, regulation-generators, and thought as to who you can recruit and what they can his support for the volunteer governor. He said: “I’ve
manufacture of evidence-based proof at all levels in compliance police must be held in check. Of course offer – it’s just about numbers. I think it’s time we never believed there wasn’t a role for governors. How
the school system, and it is this low trust culture that there are examples of poor practice, of students thought about recruiting people who bring something you organise governance is a matter of debate, but other
should attract a united stand from all of the teacher and getting a raw deal, and practice that does not new to the table, and create a body of people with public sector models still have their challenges.
support staff unions. It is time to trust schools, because meet the highest standards. I have no time for different skillsets. “Maybe there will be a move towards a federation
the vast majority of them are pulling out the stops to excuses from those who let children down, but these “Heads require business acumen – human resources of schools, with an executive head running across three
provide world class learning environments. The vast rare incidences should not generate regulation that and finance have to be run well for a school to achieve or four sites, and a smaller board of governors doing
majority of the school workforce are driven to this condemns us all. its targets – and it can be lonely for them. The more the same. There is a role and governance is important.
aim, in some cases – where there are hard-to-teach Keeping the whole class in because of the opportunity they’d have for advice from their governing Well governed schools succeed, and I wish more people
students and hard-to-reach parents – against the odds. misbehaviour of the few might punish the miscreants, body, the better it would be.” would do it.” SecEd
These are the penalties of “worst case legislation” but it doesn’t half annoy the rest of us. However, for those who do become involved, Mr
where all of us suffer penalties because of the It is time to trust schools; failure to do so hampers Smith says it is a valuable experience: “There’s a public • Carrie Dunn is a freelance education journalist.
misdeeds of the few. Each new statutory requirement the capacity for improvement. service mentality in this country, so people are willing
carries with it another raft of form-filling, report- to give their time and expertise to make children’s
Further information
writing, monitoring, and scrutiny. • Mick Brookes is general secretary of the National experience of school better.” The Governors’ One-Stop Shop: www.sgoss.org.uk
The more time that is spent maintaining paper Association of Head Teachers. Visit www.naht.org.uk For the past four years, Richard Betts has been National Governors’ Association: www.nga.org.uk
chair of governors at St Andrew’s School in Derby, Business in the Community: www.bitc.org.uk
12 SecEd • Februrary 12 2009
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20