Autonomy for schools means real responsibility for governors, who need their finger on the pulse. “Delegate to governors,” says Hull’s learning services director Peter Fletcher. “They know their young people and their community.”
But they need support through information and training. They can play a more informed role in the life of their school using materials provided by the education department. Its governors’ team has been awarded the Chartermark for its services.
Nine leaflets loaded with pertinent questions for the lay person to ask heads help to guide governors through the Ofsted framework. They help them to hold schools to account on the basics of attainment, attendance and the curriculum as well as the more slippery issues such as pupils’ attitudes and values and the school’s leadership and management.
“Having informed goverrnors is an important part of perfoirmance management for our headteachers,” says Mr Fletcher
