Autumn Termprospectus

Bradford District School Governor Service

2014

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School Governor Service Training Programme Autumn Term 2014

Latest feedback from the DfE:

“‘My ambition is that every school has a dynamic governing body. That means one that understands its responsibilities and is focused tightly on its core strategic functions. One that is no bigger than it needs to be with all governors actively contributing relevant skills and experience.’ ‘I welcome Ofsted’s explicit approach to governance. I believe that a clear and robust system of accountability is as vital to driving up the quality of governing bodies as it is to driving improvement in the quality of the schools they govern. The inspection framework is shining a light on the effectiveness and impact of governing bodies in raising standards of education.’

Lord Nash, Governors’ Handbook DfE May 2014

The Development of Skills Based Governing BodiesRecent changes in legislation make it compulsory for governing bodies of all maintained schools to appoint local authority and co-opted governors on the basis of their skills. In addition those appointing foundation governors will also have to consider this as a priority. When electing staff and parent governors the guidance proposes that schools give out information about the type of skills needed by the governing body.

As a result governing bodies will need to regularly evaluate in order to identify any areas where new skills or knowledge are needed.

The Importance of TrainingGovernors play a key role in school life and their commitment demands time, skill, and energy. With the expectations and challenges facing them, training and development for governors is now a necessary part of this commitment.

The School Governor Service aims to support governors in:

l fulfilling their strategic planning role in the schooll understanding and fulfilling their accountability role l acting as a critical friend in the management of the schooll developing appropriate skills and knowledge to effectively monitor school improvementl working in partnership with school managers, staff, parents, the local community and, where appropriate,

the diocesan authorities, Academy Trust Boards and other partnerships.Governors rightly recognise the importance of in-service training for staff in schools but they too, are key players in raising standards and need support and training to an equal degree. The School Governor Service is committed to supporting governors in acquiring the skills and knowledge they require to meet their responsibilities effectively and to ensure that they can support their schools in meeting the standards that Ofsted require.

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The School Governor Training ProgrammeThe School Governor Service provides a comprehensive training and development programme for school governing bodies and management, and offers a wide range of opportunities intended to broaden governors’ knowledge, develop their skills and update them on specific responsibilities. With this in mind the training programme priorities this term include:l Reconstitution workshops l Interpreting data across all Key Stagesl Understanding the new primary curriculum.l Ensuring that clerks to governors are equipped and

trained for their roles.l Supervising pay and appraisal systems for teaching

staff.l Preparing for OfstedYou will receive a Governor Training Prospectus at the beginning of each term. The programme can also be found on the Bradford Schools Online website at https://.bso.bradford.co.uk

Course start times and lengthThese vary so please ensure when booking that you are clear about the start time and length of the course you have chosen.Course venuesCourses will take place at Future House, Bolling Road, Bradford, BD4 7EB, Eastwood Primary School, Victoria Avenue, Keighley, BD21 3JL or Cliffe Castle, Spring Gardens Lane, Keighley, BD20 6LH. A map showing how to reach the venue will be sent with your course booking letter of confirmation.

Bespoke Courses for Individual Governing Bodies or AreasGoverning bodies can request bespoke courses on an individual or area basis. These can be:

l Learning Together Sessions – Tailor-made courses delivered in school or other venue at a time and date to suit you, and designed for a cluster group of governing bodies in a local neighbourhood or an individual governing body. These might include, for example, governor away day facilitation or focussed skills session

l Mini Courses - One hour on the agenda of a meeting of your governing body. Mini Courses present topical perspectives on school governance and related themes. We are happy to work with you to develop your ideas for mini-courses.

How to book a CourseYou can use the booking form attached to the back of the programme to book a place on any course. Alternatively you can call School Governor Service on 01274 385629, fax 01274 385983 or e-mail school.governor@bradford.gov.uk

Please let us know if you cannot attend a course which you have previously booked. It is very disappointing for both governors and tutors when less than the expected number of governors attend, and we endeavour to avoid cancellations at all costs.

New Governors The ‘Induction for New Governors’ course runs several times each term in Bradford and Keighley. School Governor Service sends a ‘Welcome Pack’ to all new governors, including details of the next available Induction Course. The aim is that this will be within three months of their appointment.

Training and Support for Chairs of GovernorsBeing chair of governors is a key leadership role and governing bodies are central to the effective accountability of schools and academies. Leading the governing body and working in partnership with the headteacher, the chair plays a pivotal role in school improvement.

Bradford Council, in collaboration with the National College, has developed a programme modelled from our own mentoring scheme for chairs of governors and the National College’s ‘National Leaders of Governance’. The scheme provides the offer of specially trained chairs and vice chairs of governors as ‘Bradford Leaders of Governance’ to provide agreed support to other colleagues.

Clerks to Governors The National Training Programme enables experienced clerks to refresh, consolidate and further develop their competences consistent with the national job description and for new clerks to undertake the role successfully. The course is sufficiently flexible to accommodate both new and experienced clerks and a key feature of the sessions will be learning from each other as well as from the materials.An individual induction session is available for new clerks at a cost of £95, and termly briefings ensure that clerks are up-to-date with the latest developments, procedures and regulations applying to governing bodies (NB there is a charge for attendance at briefings for clerks from non-subscribing schools).

For further information on any of the above call School Governor Service on 01274 385629, fax 01274 385983 or e-mail school.governor@bradford.gov.uk

Access to information, gaining skills, and increasing confidence

E-learning Opportunities with Modern Governor

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Governing bodies have expressed a keen interest in e-learning opportunities. In response, we have negotiated a very competitive agreement with Modern Governor, the market leader in the field.

Governing bodies that purchase the ‘Governing Schools’ all-inclusive subscription can access the Modern Governor e-learning modules for an additional annual fee of £92 that allows access to all e-learning modules for all members of the governing body.

What is Modern Governor?The modules cover a wide range of topics in an interesting and interactive way in approximately twenty minute ‘chunks’ that governors can follow at their convenience. Each module can be revisited at any time as a refresher or point of reference.

There are currently 24 e-learning modules in the Modern Governor catalogue.

Want to see a module for free?Use the link below to access the ‘Becoming a School Governor’ module: http://www.moderngovernor.com/

How to subscribeContact School Governor Service on 01274 385629 or e-mail school.governor@bradford.gov.uk

A HR Business Partner will outline the new responsibilities for governors in relation to the requirements for performance related pay for teaching staff at all stages in their career.

This workshop is designed to give governors advice and support in identifying the criteria for an effectively reconstituted governing body. It will address the legal requirements of the new legislation and explore the areas that governing bodies will need to consider when deciding on the size and the skills that will be needed for the future.

Governing Body Responsibility for Performance Related PayTutors: Bradford PACT Human Resources Team

Choice of Dates and Venues:Monday 15 September 2014, 6.30 – 8.00pm, Eastwood Primary SchoolOrTuesday 16 September 2014, 6.30 – 8.00pm, Future House

Reconstitution WorkshopTutors: School Governor Service

Choice of Dates and Venues:Thursday 18 September 2014, 6.30 – 7.30pm, Eastwood Primary SchoolOrTuesday 23 September 2014, 6.30 – 7.30pm, Future House

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This course is aimed at Governors and Bradford Council staff who recruit within Bradford schools and is currently being updated to take account of recent legislation and other changes.

Safer Recruitment TrainingTutors: Child Protection & Bradford PACT HR Team

For further information and training date – please contact School Governor Service on 01274 385629.

Safer Recruitment Online Training 2014-2015Information about the new online training will be circulated to governors as soon as it is available.

The New Early Years Foundation Stage Ofsted JudgementTutors: Bradford Achievement Service

Choice of Dates and Venues:Monday 22 September 2014, 6.30 – 8.30pm, Eastwood Primary SchoolOrTuesday 7 October 2014, 6.30 – 8.30pm, Future House

Promoting Community Cohesion and the Prevent Strategy including Equality Act 2010 Tutor: Jani Rashid, Head of Diversity and Inclusion

Choice of Dates and Venues: Wednesday 24 September 2014, 6.30 – 8.30pm, Eastwood Primary SchoolOrThursday 4 December 2014, 6.30 – 8.30pm, Future House

From 1 September 2014 the DfE will no longer co-ordinate arrangements for accredited training or online training. However, the requirement for at least one member of a recruitment panel to be appropriately trained in line with safeguarding guidance remains. No replacement certificates or passwords will be issued via the DfE online system from 31 July. Delegates interested in safer recruitment training courses may apply for pre-registration of the NSPCC online training course which will be available from early October.

The current online training will remain available to schools until 30 September, for those already in possession of a password; however you may wish to wait until the new training is available, as this will incorporate the most recent changes to legislation and safeguarding policy.

The changing profiles of Bradford schools mean that promoting equality, diversity and community cohesion can be challenging for many schools. The importance of promoting community cohesion is seen as an important factor in preparing children and young people for life in a modern Britain and safeguarding them from risks of being exposed to radicalisation and extremism.

What does this mean in relation to leadership and management in your school? This session will provide governors with information about different pieces of legislation that impact on this area of work focusing on the Prevent Strategy 2011 and on practical ways in which schools are able to meet their statutory responsibilities.

With the introduction of a separate Ofsted judgement for early years’ provision in September 2014 this training course is designed to help governors understand the criteria which will be used when inspection judgements are made. Ofsted have recognised that the quality of the provision at this stage of children’s development performs a vital role in ensuring that they achieve their full potential later in life and governor knowledge and monitoring of this provision has become increasingly important.

Holding Schools to AccountTutors: Bradford Achievement Service

Choice of Dates and Venues:Tuesday 30 September 2014, 6.30 – 8.30pm, Eastwood Primary SchoolOrThursday 9 October 2014, 6.30 – 8.30pm, Future House

Hearings in Schools: The Role of the Clerk and HR Advisor Tutors: Bradford PACT HR Team and School Governor Service

Date and Venue:Wednesday 1 October 2014, 6.00 – 7.30pm, Future House

Headteacher’s Performance Management: the Governors’ RoleTutors: Bradford Achievement Service

Choice of Dates and Venues:Monday 29 September 2014, 6.30 – 8.30pm, Eastwood Primary SchoolOrThursday 2 October 2014, 6.30 – 8.30pm, Future House

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There is clear evidence from Ofsted inspections that in the most effective schools there is robust challenge to senior leaders by governors who know the school well, have the right skills, are well informed, but who also have a secure grasp of their basic duties.

We will look at how effective schools hold leaders to account and provide challenge by comparing, analysing and questioning a range of data about outcomes for pupils and triangulating these with the quality of practice and provision, most importantly the quality of teaching and learning.

The course is for governors involved in the headteacher’s performance management and how this supports school improvement. Attendance should be a pre-requisite for governors reviewing the headteacher’s performance. The course is designed to develop the skills of governors in setting objectives and participating in the performance management review meeting.

It will cover the principles of performance management, how this sits with the monitoring and evaluation cycle of school, and the responsibilities of governors for the performance management process.

The committee setting the head’s performance targets now has an increased level of responsibility. Governors need to consider the evidence that they will require to evaluate current performance and set new targets. This may include seeking external support and the session will consider how governors might gain access to this.

A HR Business Partner will offer background, advice and scenarios regarding issues involving staff in schools and an experienced clerk will advise regarding the duties, responsibilities and actions required of clerks in all types of governors’ investigations and hearings. The session is principally intended for clerks. Places are limited and early application is encouraged.

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The Updated Inspection FrameworkTutors: Bradford Achievement Service

Date and Venue:Monday 6 October 2014, 6.30 – 8.30pm, Eastwood Primary School

National Training Programme for Clerks to School GovernorsTutors: School Governor Service

Sessions: Tuesdays 7 and 21 October, Thursday 4 and Tuesday 9 DecemberAll sessions 4 – 6.30pm, Future House

The New Primary CurriculumTutors: Bradford Achievement Service

Choice of Dates and Venues:Wednesday 8 October 2014, 6.30 – 8.30pm, Eastwood Primary SchoolOrWednesday 15 October 2014, 6.30 – 8.30pm, Future House

Governors’ Responsibility for Monitoring and EvaluationTutors: School Governor Service

Date and Venue:Monday 13 October 2014, 6.30 – 8.30pm, Future House

The changes to the Inspection Framework have continued over the last year and now include updates such as separate judgements for Foundation Stage and KS5, preparing children for life in 21 Century Britain and a continuing emphasis on the role of the governing body. This session will explore the latest changes to the Inspection Framework allowing governors insights into the criteria against which schools will be judged.

This is a four session course which is open to all Clerks, for further details of this course and its cost please contact School Governor Service.

Is performance as good as expected? Does further action need to be taken? Governors have limited time and resources and need to focus on where they can make the most difference.

Effective monitoring and evaluation directs governors’ energies and provides support and challenge to school leaders. The governing body must decide the key indicators and share the responsibilities for monitoring different aspects of the School Development Plan.

The course will consider how monitoring and evaluation contributes to school improvement and will introduce governors to:

l Sources of information that can be used to assess performance.

l Approaches to monitoring and evaluation.l How to focus on strategy and keep track of

progress.

With sweeping changes to the Primary Curriculum being implemented from September 2014 this is an opportunity for governors to familiarise themselves with these changes and their impact upon schools, their staff and the expected outcomes for children.

The New Special Educational Needs (SEN) FrameworkTutors: Special Educational Needs Service

Choice of Dates and Venues:Tuesday 14 October 2014, 6.30 – 8.30pm, Eastwood Primary SchoolOrThursday 16 October 2014, 6.30 – 8.30pm, Future House

Effective Financial Governance Tutors: School Funding Team

Choice of Dates and Venues:Monday 20 October 2014, 6.30 – 8.30pm, Eastwood Primary SchoolOrWednesday 19 November 2013, 6.30 – 8.30pm, Future House

Induction for New Governors Tutors: School Governor Service and colleagues from Bradford PACT HR Team and School Funding Team.

Choice of Dates and Venues:Wednesday 22 October, Thursday 6 November, Wednesday 12 November 20146.30 – 8.30pm at Future House (requires attendance at all three sessions)OrThursday 23 October 2014, 9.15am – 3.30pm, Future HouseOrFriday 21 November 2014, 9.15am - 3.30pm, Cliffe Castle, KeighleyOrFriday 28 November 2014, 9.15am - 3.30pm, Future House

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Fundamental changes to the SEN framework come into force from 1 September 2014 and schools will be responsible for the delivery of their local offer for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). This, allied with the updated guidance and earlier involvement of parents, means that the monitoring of this aspect of school life by the governing body will have an increased focus until the changes are effectively embedded.

This course is primarily intended for governors who serve on a finance committee (or its equivalent) of maintained schools. The topics it will cover include: setting the annual budget, agreeing financial priorities, medium term financial planning, monitoring expenditure against the budget, variations to spending plans including virements, financial systems and procedures, delegated authority to the head teacher, and financial benchmarking

The induction course assists newly appointed governors to contribute effectively and quickly to support schools in raising standards. It will provide you with an overview of school governance, your role as a governor, the responsibilities and expectations of you, and the ways in which you should work with the headteacher and school leadership team.

You will have opportunities to meet and exchange views with other recently appointed governors and for discussion and group work in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.

Monitoring the Use and Impact of Pupil PremiumTutors: School Governor Service

Date and Venue:Monday 3 November 2014, 6.30 – 8.00pm, Future House

How to Manage School Building ProjectsTutor: Darren Starkey, Education Buildings Team

Date and Venue: Tuesday 4 November 2014, 6.30 – 8.30pm, Future House

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The effective use of Pupil Premium funding to close the gap in attainment between vulnerable groups and other students is now a specific focus for Ofsted when judgements are made about the effectiveness of the governing body. There are statutory responsibilities for information to be published on school websites and publicly available attainment data highlights whether schools are effective in achieving good educational outcomes for all their students.

This course will assist governors in ensuring that they are giving this area the focus it deserves and can be confident that their schools are using the funding to give the best outcomes possible for their children and young people.

Key Principles:l How to fund, manage and control school building

projects l Help schools to understand the need for proper

project planning l Understand school’s financial, legal and H&S

obligations l Help schools to avoid taking unnecessary risks

and avoid making costly mistakes l Sign posting to the right experts and

professionals to support project development l Consider how buildings can improve Behaviour,

Attainment, Achievement and enhance the school’s Reputation through improved facilities

Timing:l The workshop will be a series of brief

presentations by experts with some exercises and time to reflect on how to improve practice in school

l The workshop will briefly explain how the process works, what can go wrong and how to avoid this

l Time will be allowed for Q&A and to meet the experts

Chairs and Heads: Working Together Tutors: School Governor Service

Date and Venue:Monday 10 November 2014, 9.15am – 2.30pm, Future House

Early Years Data MonitoringTutors: Bradford Achievement Service (EYFS/ EYFSP lead)

Dates and Venues:Wednesday 12 November 2014, 6.30 – 8.30pm, Eastwood Primary SchoolOrThursday 13 November 2014, 6.30 – 8.30pm, Future House

Governors’ Responsibilities for Health and Safety in SchoolsTutor: Bradford Council Occupational Safety Adviser

Date and Venue:Monday 17 November 2013, 6.30 – 8.30pm, Future House

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Leadership and management is a major focus in an Ofsted inspection and the head and chair are the key participants. For this reason, chairs and headteachers are invited to attend this lively one-day course together. Questions that will be considered include:

l What do chairs and headteachers expect of each other in the effort to raise standards?

l How can they support each other in their respective leadership roles?

l What are the various pressures that can influence decision-making?

l What makes them an effective partnership?l Who are their allies?l How can they build a stronger team?

The course combines discussion and presentation with quality ‘talking and planning’ time for each chair / head partnership

The session will be of relevance to all governors in settings with Early Years provision. The session will: l Look at the data relating to the attainment

of children assessed at the end of reception year which will be released shortly before the scheduled sessions

l Explore the duties of governors in relation to the above

Governors need to be aware of health and safety issues in their schools. The course outlines their duties and responsibilities for the Health and Safety of pupils, visitors and staff in school and associated activities. It also covers the undertaking and management of risk assessments in school which are an essential part of health and safety risk management.

Running Effective MeetingsTutors: School Governor Service

Date and Venue: Tuesday 18 November 2014, 6.30 – 8.00pm, Future House

Safeguarding: The Governors’ RoleTutor: Safeguarding Consultant

Date and Venue: Thursday 20 November 2014, 6.30 – 8.30pm, Future House

Managing Workforce ChangeTutors: Bradford PACT HR Team

Date and Venue:Wednesday 26 November 2014, 6.30 – 8.00pm, Future House

Governing Body Skills Audit and Self ReviewTutors: School Governor Service

Date and Venue: Thursday 27 November 2014, 6.30 – 8.00pm, Future House

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The course is for new and experienced chairs and vice chairs of committees and governing bodies.

Ensuring that meetings are focussed and effective is an important task of the chair. Giving all governors the opportunity to contribute to discussion and ensuring that meetings are used to both support and challenge school leadership is vital considering the increasing stress placed by Ofsted on the quality of school governance.

Even when meetings are effective the chair has an additional role in ensuring that the minutes clearly record the quality of the discussions. This course will assist governors in planning and leading meetings and in monitoring the quality of the minutes of those meetings.

With the new Ofsted focus on Safeguarding governors need to be aware of their role in monitoring the effectiveness of schools in keeping children safe from harm. They need to understand the different areas of concern and ensure that these are addressed effectively by the systems and practices of their school.

The school workforce has to be open to change in order to ensure the provision of the best possible education for all children. This session will look at ways in which the structures of schools can be changed; the reasons for these changes and the governing body’s involvement in the process of achieving the new structure.

Governing Bodies are tasked with giving strategic direction to schools, with monitoring and evaluating the quality of the education delivered in those schools and its impact upon the children who attend them.

In order to be effective in these roles governors need to be certain that they regularly review the impact of their own work. This course will look at ways in which governing bodies can use self review as a tool for improvement, both of the governing body and the school.

The wording in this publication can be made available in other formats such as large print. Please call 01274 385629

Data Dashboard WorkshopTutors: School Governor Service

Date and Venue:Monday 1 December 2014, 6.00 – 7.00pm, Future House

Places will be limited so please book early to avoid disappointment.

Preparing for OfstedTutors: Bradford Achievement Service

Date and Venue:Wednesday 3 December, 6.30 – 8.30pm, Future House

Religious Education and Collective Worship: Helping learners to engage with the spiritual, moral, social and cultural aspects of lifeTutors: Diversity & Cohesion

Date and Venue:Monday 8 December 2014, 6.30 – 8.30pm, Future House

This course will be of interest to governors in any school where an Ofsted inspection is anticipated in the near future. Although the aim of all governing bodies is the provision of the best possible education to meet the needs of the children for whom it is responsible, ensuring that this can be effectively evidenced is also a priority when an inspection is due. This course will assist governors in ensuring that they have done everything possible to prepare.

Religious Education and Collective Worship continue to have a unique legal status in the school curriculum. As schools respond to new initiatives in education it is important that governors and senior management teams understand the contribution religious education and collective worship make to learning and to school ethos. The course will introduce governors to the statutory framework and the ways in which governors can ensure that it has a positive impact upon their schools.

The School Data Dashboard provides a snapshot of school performance at Key Stages 1, 2 and 4. This data tool can be used by school governors to check the performance of their schools.

The Dashboard complements the Ofsted school inspection report by providing an analysis of school performance over a three-year period. Data can be filtered by key stage or by topic: l Expected progressl Attainmentl Attendancel Closing the gap between disadvantaged and

other pupilsl ContextWorkshops will be interactive and after a general introduction to the website and basics of the data dashboard, you will be able to log on to your school’s information and explore the data available. This will assist your understanding of the information and assist you in holding school leaders to account.