Ask A Clerk

Advice for school governors and clerks. Run by Sophie Lee who has over 10 years of experience clerking for Southampton schools.

[Ask A Clerk @askaclerk]

I've launched a NEW clerk to governors training course for maintained school clerks. It covers voting and quorums, procedures at meetings, electing the chair, conflicts of interest, chair's action and much more. More details here: https://t.co/sMa7u9IXJG

[Ask A Clerk @askaclerk]

A governing body near me has received this panic-inducing judgement in its OFSTED report: "The governing body does not understand or fulfil its statutory responsibilities."

[Ask A Clerk @askaclerk]

Training for academy clerks now available, covering the Academy Trust Handbook and talking you through the rules in articles of association: https://t.co/9n8hXViNni

[Ask A Clerk @askaclerk]

@harry15684 If they are part II minutes instead the school can insist that you submit an FOI and have limited rights to redact information. In this case I can't think of any reason why the school could redact the information - your question sounds very reasonable!

[Ask A Clerk @askaclerk]

@harry15684 Maintained schools must supply signed copies of part 1 governor minutes under the School Governance (Roles, Procedures and Allowances) (England) Regulations 2013. They must be given "as soon as reasonably practicable". Here's a link to the law: https://t.co/JRMivGhF1t

[Ask A Clerk @askaclerk]

@harry15684 Yes that's right, part 1 minutes are public and need no FOI. However, it is possible that the governors have marked the entire meeting as part 2 (confidential), depending on the topic. If you can tell me if it's a maintained school or an academy I can tell you how to challenge.

[Ask A Clerk @askaclerk]

For anyone interested in governance at the Post Office here is an astonishing "Board Effectiveness Review" from 2013. The board rates itself as "stimulating, vibrant and pro-active", among many other glowing compliments.

Link (pdf): https://t.co/cBwbMXQzzU

[Ask A Clerk @askaclerk]

Should school governors talk about parking problems? For example, if parents are blocking driveways or parking on pavements?

[Ask A Clerk @askaclerk]

@SBWgovernance Even better if the staff governor happens to be the DSL - they'll know all the safeguarding stuff already! 😆

[Ask A Clerk @askaclerk]

Crikey, one of the searches on my website yesterday was "Can the headteacher be chair of governors?" 😲

[Ask A Clerk @askaclerk]

@ChezKuit 😆😆 I wonder if it's a clerk whose board has gone rogue who is desperately trying to keep them from disaster. But surely no head would think they can be chair of govs.

[Ask A Clerk @askaclerk]

@RosMadeMe I can't tell who asked the question, but hopefully not!!

[Ask A Clerk @askaclerk]

NEW: The Minutes, Agendas & Admin course for clerks in maintained schools is available now from Ask A Clerk: https://t.co/C9Lbq82UKB

This is my third training course and all three courses together form a full maintained school clerk's induction course.

[Ask A Clerk @askaclerk]

@RebeccaLeek_ Thank you, I've checked the Bealings School report and there are indeed comments on governor challenge and knowledge of curriculum. Probably the most I've seen on governance in quite a while.

[Ask A Clerk @askaclerk]

Has anyone seen an OFSTED report recently that made any substantial comments on governance? In my area I can barely find a report that even mentions governors.

[Steve Barker @BarkerLeadershp]

@askaclerk I routinely check newly-published reports: I’ve seen no mention for ages!

[Ask A Clerk @askaclerk]

@SemperPhoe I think the trouble is that the deputy head has so much involvement in school plans, policies, strategy etc that they would end up "marking their own homework".

[Ask A Clerk @askaclerk]

I've seen several (maintained) schools lately where the Deputy Headteacher is the staff governor. What's your view on this? Can the Deputy Head hold the Headteacher to account effectively?

[Ask A Clerk @askaclerk]

The DfE have made minor updates to their Governance Guides so I have produced updated PDF versions, available free at Ask A Clerk: https://t.co/QC58cRh2an

[Ask A Clerk @askaclerk]

@moonrakerteach It's elected in theory, but in practice often no vote is held as there's only one candidate. No way round that unless other staff volunteer - but are they brave enough to run against the deputy headteacher?

[Sarah @Sarahtheclerk]

@askaclerk I'm not sure any staff governor is really able to hold the head to account, but I do think someone other than the deputy can give a different perspective. But it's an elected post so if that's who the staff picked or didn't stand against that's how it will be.

[Julie Merry @Juls0022]

@askaclerk They may well be able to do that within the confines of the Headteachers office but it would not be the case publicly! Whether they could do or not it’s a clear conflict of interests!