Code of Practice

Code of Practice for School Governors

This code sets out the expectations on and commitment required from school governors and trustees in order for the governing board to properly carry out its work within the school and the community.  It can be amended to include specific reference to the ethos of the particular school. ‘School’ includes academies, and it applies to all level of school governance.

The governing board has the following core strategic functions:

Establishing the strategic direction, by:

• Setting the vision, values, and objectives for the school
• Agreeing the school improvement strategy with priorities and targets
• Meeting statutory duties

Ensuring accountability, by:

• Appointing the headteacher
• Monitoring progress towards targets
• Performance managing the headteacher
• Engaging with stakeholders
• Contributing to school self-evaluation

Ensuring financial probity, by:

• Setting the budget
• Monitoring spending against the budget
• Ensuring value for money is obtained
• Ensuring risks to the organisation are managed

As individuals on the board we agree to the following:

Role & Responsibilities 

• We understand the purpose of the board and the role of the headteacher.
• We accept that we have no legal authority to act individually, except when the board has given us delegated authority to do so, and therefore we will only speak on behalf of the governing board when we have been specifically authorised to do so.
• We accept collective responsibility for all decisions made by the board or its delegated agents. This means that we will not speak against majority decisions outside the governing board meeting.
• We have a duty to act fairly and without prejudice, and in so far as we have responsibility for staff, we will fulfil all that is expected of a good employer.
• We will encourage open government and will act appropriately.
• We will consider carefully how our decisions may affect the community and other schools.
• We will always be mindful of our responsibility to maintain and develop the ethos and reputation of our school. Our actions within the school and the local community will reflect this.
• In making or responding to criticism or complaints affecting the school we will follow the procedures established by the governing board.
• We will actively support and challenge the headteacher.
• We will consider the advice of the Clerk and seek guidance regarding the extent and limit of our roles and responsibilities as Governors as necessary.

Commitment

• We acknowledge that accepting office as a governor involves the commitment of significant amounts of time and energy.
• We will each involve ourselves actively in the work of the governing board, and accept our fair share of responsibilities, including service on committees or working groups.
• We will make full efforts to attend all meetings and where we cannot attend explain in advance why we are unable to.
• We will get to know the school well and respond to opportunities to involve ourselves in school activities.
• We will visit the school, with all visits to school arranged in advance with the staff and undertaken within the framework established by the governing board and agreed with the headteacher.
• We will consider seriously our individual and collective needs for training and development, and will undertake relevant training .
• We accept that in the interests of open government, our names, terms of office, roles on the Board of Governors, category of governor and the body responsible for appointing us will be published on the school’s website.

Relationships

• We will strive to work as a team in which constructive working relationships are actively promoted.
• We will express views openly, courteously and respectfully in all our communications with other governors.
• We will support the chair in their role of ensuring appropriate conduct both at meetings and at all times.
• We are prepared to answer queries from other governors in relation to delegated functions and take into account any concerns expressed, and we will acknowledge the time, effort and skills that have been committed to the delegated function by those involved.
• We will seek to develop effective working relationships with the headteacher, staff and parents, the local authority and other relevant agencies and the community.

Confidentiality

• We will observe complete confidentiality when matters are deemed confidential or where they concern specific members of staff or pupils, both inside or outside school.
• We will exercise the greatest prudence at all times when discussions regarding school business arise outside a governing board meeting.
• We will not reveal the details of any governing board vote.
• Each Governor will provide a secure, private email address to the school for use by Trafford Clerking Service to receive; agenda; documents; reports; training details and notifications.
• Each Governor will ensure that emails and attachments received from the school and Trafford Governor Services are treated as private and confidential.

Conflicts of interest

• We will record any pecuniary or other business interest (including those related to people we are connected with) that we have in connection with the governing board’s business in the Register of Business Interests, and if any such conflicted matter arises in a meeting we will offer to leave the meeting for the appropriate length of time. We accept that the Register of Business Interests will be published on the school’s website.
• We will also declare any conflict of loyalty at the start of any meeting should the situation arise.
• We will act in the best interests of the school as a whole and not as a representative of any group, even if elected to the governing board.

Specific to St Mary’s School – Code of Conduct

• Foster and maintain meaningful links with the PTA.
• Foster and maintain meaningful links with St Mary’s PCC.
• To be mindful of the protocol for the nomination of governors and the rights and responsibilities of the Diocese and PCC in respect of their appointments.
• To improve communication with the parents.
• To ensure that meetings are inclusive, user friendly and effective.
• To maintain the health and safety standards in line with relevant legislation.

Breach of this code of conduct

• If we believe this code has been breached, we will raise this issue with the chair and the chair will investigate; the governing board will only use suspension/removal as a last resort after seeking to resolve any difficulties or disputes in more constructive ways.
• Should it be the chair that we believe has breached this code, another governor, such as the vice chair will investigate.