Self Evaluation Tool for School Governing Bodies

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Dear Governor I am delighted to offer you this self-review tool, produced by the Merseyside and Cheshire Area (MCA) partnership, in conjunction with the Learn Together Partnership (LTP), which I chair. It is based on the All Party Parliamentary Groups „Twenty questions for School Governing Bodies to ask themselves’  and  and is now available for use with your governing body to support you in your work in our schools. This builds on the excellent booklets produced by the LTP governor services group over a numb er of years, including the “Making “ Making Sense of …” …” series for governors, which includes „Making „ Making Sense of School Finance’ , „Making „ Making Sense of Performance Data‟ Data‟ and „Making „Making Sense of Safeguarding ‟ which have all been well received. The aim of MCA is to develop gover nors nors to provide support and challenge to schools and become more effective critical friends and deliver better outcomes for children and young people. The partnership comprises nine local authorities, namely Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton, Warrington and Wirral, National Leaders of Governance (NLGs), the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) and the local dioceses. The value of this tool is in i n the emerging action plan and training you will identify from the evaluation. Whilst recognising its use would be enhanced by facilitator input, the document and task can be tackled without facilitation. The order in which your approach the questions is up to you, but we have stayed with the order from the twenty questions.  Against each question you should grade your governing body as red, amber or green. The criteria for a grading of green are listed alongside the question. Where the criteria are not met you should grade yourself „red‟ and where they are partly met you shou ld grade yourself „amber‟. Where a red or amber judgement is reached you should use the „action‟ column to detail the actio action n required to move yourself to „green‟. When completed, transfer the actions to the action plan template at the back of the document. Relevant t imescales and a training package should be agreed. It could also be used to measure performance of individual governors, including the chair.  chair.   As part of this process of self-review, self-review, I would signpost you to a number of documents that you may find useful.

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  Skills audit – audit – contact  contact your LA for a copy of this document.   As part of the next piece of work, the MCA MCA partnership will be producing a 360º questionnaire abo about ut the chair, vice-chair and committee chairs. This is on NCTL website but only if you access the course.

 

Once you have completed the review, you may decide to undertake a more formal external review of governance in your school. Details of this are available through your LA website and the NCTL website. Yours sincerely

Colin Pettigrew Chair of the Learn Together Partnership Director of Children‟s Services  Services   Sefton Borough Council 

Glossary of terms SFVS

Schools Financial Value Standard

SGOSS

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School Governors One Stop Shop http://www.sgoss.org.uk/ http://www.sgoss.org.uk/;; 

 

A Self-Evaluation Tool for School Governing Bodies, based on the All-Party Parliamentary Group’s “Twenty Questions for School Governing Bodies to ask themselves”  themselves”    Against each question the governing body should g rade itself as red, amber or green. The criteria for a grading of green are listed alongside the question. Where the criteria are not met, the governing govern ing body should grade itself „red‟ and where they are partly met this should be graded „amber‟. Where a red or amber judgement is reached the governing body should use the „action‟ column to detail the action required to move the governing body to „green‟. When „green‟. When completed the actions should be transferred to the action plan template (on page 14), and relevant timescales should be agreed.

Right skills: Do we have the right skills on the governing body? Question

1.

Have we completed a skills audit of our governing body?

Criteria to be met

Tick appropriate box

List the evidence for this grade

 A judgement of „green‟ will indicat indicate: e:     The school has identified the skills required for the governing body and an appropriate skills audit tool   A skills audit has been completed and analysed   Any skills gaps have been identified 





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Action required

 

Question

Criteria to be met

Tick appropriate box

List the evidence for this grade

 A judgement of „green‟ will indicat indicate: e:   2.

Do we appoint governors on the basis of their skills, and do we know how to find people with the necessary skills?

 



 



 



 



 



Outcome of skills audit informs governor recruitment Governing body enters into a dialogue with the appointing bodies regarding the skill sets required in new governors Desired skills are set out when advertising parent governor vacancies. Governors are appointed on the basis on their skills Governing Body is aware of SGOSS as a possible source of governor recruitment

Effectiveness: Are we as effective as we could be?

 A judgement of „green‟ will indicat indicate: e:   Governors can clearly articulate the three key roles of the governing body   Governors have a clear understanding 

3. Do we



understand roles and our responsibilities?  



 



of the of theteacher governing role ofrole the head andbody the and the strategic / operational split Governors can evidence culture of keeping themselves up to date New governors are inducted effectively

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Action required

 

Question

Criteria to be met

Tick appropriate box

List the evidence for this grade

 A judgement of „green‟ will indicat indicate: e:  

We have a knowledgeable and wellinformed clerk who is able to advise the

 

governing on its responsibilities We have abody job description and performance management process in place for our clerk Our committee clerking arrangements are of a consistent quality with our full governing body arrangements. Meetings keep to time, and deal with all agenda items Decisions and actions from the meeting are clearly recorded and appropriately followed up Accurate minutes are produced in a timely way and include evidence of governing body challenge and impact





4.

Do we have a professional clerk and run meeting efficiently?

 



 



 



 



5.

What is our training and development budget and does every governor receive the support they need to carry out their role effectively?

 A judgement of „green‟ will indicat indicate: e:   We have an appropriate level of funding for governor development   We are aware of the offer from the Local  Authority and other potential sources   We have clearly identified governor training needs and this is linked to the outcomes of the skills audit   Governing body development is 







integrated into the monitored. school development plan and regularly

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Action required

 

Question

6.

Do we know about good practice from across the country?

Criteria to be met

Tick appropriate box

List the evidence for this grade

 A judgement of „green‟ will indicat indicate e that   Lead governors keep themselves informed and disseminate information – information  –   this may include attendance at LA briefings, governor forums, local and national governance events, reading relevant publications, using on-line tools.

 A judgement of „green‟ will indicat indicate e that:  that:    The governing body has considered reconstituting under the 2012 regulations and have either decided to do so or have c onfirmed that our current constitution is fit for purpose and allows us to recruit skilled governors.   The governing body regularly (and at least annually) reviews its committee structure and terms of reference to ensure that they meet the current needs of the governing body. 

7.

Is the size, composition and committee structure of our governing body conducive to effective working?





 

The delegation of decision makingand to committees, individual governors the head teacher is clearly recorded and understood by all (including the purpose and operation of any link governor positions).

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Action required

 

Question

8.

Criteria to be met

Tick appropriate box

List the evidence for this grade

Does every member of the governing body make a regular contribution and do we carry out an annual review of the governing body’s performance?

 A  judgement of „green‟ will indicat indicate e regularly. that:  that:  All governors attend meetings   The governing body regularly evaluates its effectiveness in holding the school to account and supporting school improvement.   Stakeholders are regularly consulted about their views of the governing body and how effectively it fulfils its role (eg staff, parents, the Local Authority) 





Strategy: Does the school have a clear vision?

9.

Have we developed long-term aims for the school with clear priorities in an ambitious school development plan which is regularly monitored and reviewed?

 A judgement of „green‟ will indicat indicate e that:  that:    Governors and school leaders have a clearly articulated shared vision, which 

 



is regularly reviewed plan. and underpins the school development Governors have a clear understanding of the school‟s development priorities and progress against these.

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Action required

 

Question

Criteria to be met

Tick appropriate box

List the evidence for this grade

 A judgement of „green‟ will indicate that: that:     Governors have considered how to 

10. strategic Does our planning cycle drive the governing body’s activities and agenda setting?

 



 



approach monitoringpriorities progressand against school development where the responsibility for each area sits The committee structure appropriately reflects this The governing body ensures relevant meetings are timed to coincide with key milestones, such as publication of RAISE online, pupil progress reviews, lesson observations

Accountability of the executive: Do we hold the school leaders to account?  A judgement of „green‟ will indicate that: that:     Governors receive succinct and clear reports from the headteacher on school improvement priorities   Governors are familiar with the Ofsted data dashboard and, where schools subscribe, the Fischer Family Trust governors‟ data dashboard  dashboard  

11. Do we understand the school’s performance data well enough to properly hold school leaders to account?





 

 



 



Some governors see the full RAISE online report and are able to draw conclusions from this Pupil progress data is regularly presented to governors in a way that all governors understand Governors use the data presented to bring appropriate questions and challenge to school leaders

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Action required

 

Question

Criteria to be met

Tick appropriate box

List the evidence for this grade

 A judgement of „green‟ will indicate that: that:     The governing body has appointed a well-trained performance management panel with a good understanding of the process and of the school‟s development priorities.   An appropriately experienced external adviser has been commissioned to advise this panel, meeting statutory requirements.   The performance management panel holds regular review meetings with the head teacher.   Governors ensure that the headteacher‟s objectives effectively support school improvement and 



12. How effective is our performance management of the headteacher?





 



positively impact on school development The outcomes of performance management are effectively linked to leadership pay.

 A judgement of „green‟ will indicate that:   We have successfully achieved the SFVS and addressed any action points which arose   We have robust auditing processes in place, including external auditing of the school fund. 



13. Are our financial management systems robust and do we ensure best value for money?



 

 



 



 



One or more governors access(es) the government‟s financial benchmarking benchmarking data and this informs decision making Clear delegations are in place for levels of spending and for budget monitoring and approval. Financial decisions are clearly linked to school development priorities Staffing decisions reflect the requirement to ensure value for money, and decisions regarding pay are clearly linked to the agreed policy

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Action required

 

Question

Criteria to be met

Tick appropriate box

List the evidence for this grade

Action required

Engagement: Are we properly engaged with our school community, the wider school sector and the outside world?

 A judgement of „green‟ will indicate that: that:     The school signposts parents to Ofsted‟s Parent View website  website    The governing body has mechanisms in place to consult parents, pupils and staff regarding their views on the school.   There is evidence of ways in which the school have responded to these consultations and this is communicated to the stakeholders 

14. How do we listen to and understand our pupils, parents and staff?





 A judgement of „green‟ will indicate that: that:     We meet the statutory requirements for information to be included on the school‟s website  website    Relevant school policies and procedures are easily accessed by parents   We also have a variety of communication channels which address 

15. How do we report to our parents and local community regularly?





 



the needs of the parental community We inform the parental community about the work of the governing body which may include publication of governing body minutes

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Question

16. What benefit do we draw from collaboration with other schools and other sectors, locally and nationally?

Criteria to be met

Tick appropriate box

List the evidence for this grade

 A judgement of „green‟ will indicat indicate e that:  that:    Governors have a clear understanding of all the networks and groups that the school participates in and the impact of these on the school   Governors are aware of where their school fits into the local and national picture of schools supporting other schools 



Role of chair: Does our chair show strong and effective leadership?

17. Do we carry out a regular o 360  review of the chair’s performance?

 A judgement of „green‟ will indicat indicate e that:  that:  We have identified an appropriate tool for reviewing the chair‟s performance and undertake a regular review.

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Action required

 

Question

Criteria to be met

Tick appropriate box

List the evidence for this grade

 A judgement of „green‟ will indicat indicate e that:  that:  

 

18. Do we engage in good succession planning?

19. Are the the chair and committee chairs reelected each year?

 



 



If the is chair stepped down the governing body confident there would be an appropriately skilled governor to take up the position Leadership (i.e. committee chairing) is distributed across the governing body Governors are aware of training opportunities to develop leadership skills and potential leaders are identified and encouraged to undertake training

 A judgement of „green‟ will indicat indicate e that:  that: 

  the governing body has clear and



transparent mechanisms for annual elections which are understood by all governors.

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Action required

 

Question

Criteria to be met

Tick appropriate box

List the evidence for this grade

Impact: Are we having an impact on outcomes for pupils?

20. How much has the school improved over the last three years, and what has the governing body’s contribution been to this?

 A judgement of „green‟ will indicat indicate e that

  the governing body can clearly state the



impact it has had on different areas of school improvement. This may include ensuring appropriate procedures are in place and implemented, ensuring high quality senior leadership appointments, improving the learning environment via appropriate investment, supporting senior leaders in improving the quality of teaching, or other examples as identified by the governing body.

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Action required

 

Governing Body Action Plan Action required

By whom

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By when

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