Much of the advice which deluges governing bodies emphasises the value of teamwork, partnership, working together and good relationships. Quite rightly - these are the building blocks of an effective governing body and school.

But can relationships be too good? Do your meetings resemble a coffee morning? Do they tackle the difficult issues? Are they taking three hours without getting anywhere? Or are they “over and out” so quickly that no one gets a chance to say their piece? What does a perfect meeting feel like?

Governors meetings seem to fall between two extremes. The first (the Daleks) is the super-efficient meeting, over in double quick time, very often to congratulations all round. Committees have circulated written reports, so has the head, all the governors with special responsibilities, and any who have visited the school. The reports are assumed to have been read and digested before the meeting; committees are trusted to have done their work well; and their recommendations to adopt policies or for further action are accepted.

The chair invites additional comment but it is not often taken up. Issues which look likely to provoke discussion are quickly referred to the appropriate committee. Compliments flow about how well the school is doing - all is well - an excellent model for a businesslike and efficient governing body.

The opposite extreme (the Happy Wanderers!) is the relaxed, chatty and often very interesting and informative meeting. Most committees and usually the head have circulated their written reports before the meeting and they are dealt with in various ways. If they are a bit boring, or difficult, they are simply received. But when the subject matter is interesting or bears on personal experience, the debate flows, with plenty of anecdote and evidence.

Everyone knows each other well, the atmosphere is friendly, and building good relationships with staff, parents and the parent-teacher association is seen as important. Occasionally, as someone rambles on about their holiday or their own school days, the teacher and staff governors have a quiet natter about the day’s events or a couple of parent governors swap notes about teachers.

At other times there will be solemn attention as the head imparts important information about performance assessment data or national tests. Sometimes a barrage of witty repartee will erupt. The chair will call everyone to order after a while and the meeting will progress happily. Everyone will go home with a warm glow - except perhaps the one person who wonders what was missing.

These stereotypes are too extreme, but most governors will recognise something in them. A perfect meeting - to be worked towards and never achieved - will be somewhere between the two. However, most governing bodies want to spend their time usefully, so some things to remember might be:

* Everyone has a responsibility to make the meeting go well - do not leave it entirely up to the poor chair to act as nanny.

* Anyone can ask a question - and if it is not answered or dealt with properly, ask it again. In staff selection training this is called “probing” and is quite hard to do.

* Try not to rely on the head or chair to be the fount of all knowledge.

* Judicious planning of the workload and referring tasks to committees can free up time to discuss important issues. A briefing paper generated by an individual, a committee or the head can stimulate worthwhile debate, especially if it is circulated in advance.

* A well-planned agenda, which focuses attention on areas of special interest, positions them early in the meeting and makes clear what is to be received or discussed at length, is helpful.

* A timed agenda can be useful, if only as an opportunity for the chair to utter the magic words “colleagues I am becoming aware of the time!”

* More magic words - if the chair dares! “I will have to separate you two if you won’t stop talking”.

* And from the clerk - plaintively “I am getting lost here, what shall I put in the minutes?”

* Stay focused!

Governors should leave the meeting with a warm glow of satisfaction.They should be friendly affairs, even in difficult circumstances, but we should also depart in the knowledge that good work has been accomplished.

Diana Penton is a governor, clerk, and honorary secretary of the National Association of Governors and Managers