Archived decisions

Contact: Janet Sheriton, Head of Governor Services (01962 845706)

1 Introduction

1.1 Since the introduction of Local Management of Schools in 1988 it has been widely recognised that there has been a fundamental change in the roles of governing bodies. Whilst governors remain volunteers drawn from the local community the statutory expectations of the role have continued to increase and their responsibilities for improving standards of education have become more central.

1.2 Hampshire County Council has a long and proud history of genuine recognition of the role of school governance in education. This is illustrated by the depth and quality of its training and support for governors and more recently by the introduction in 1996 of individual certificates for Long Service and by a certificate and an invitation to a County Reception for Outstanding Service.

1.3 Nevertheless as national expectations of governors and governing bodies continue to grow, the Members of the Education Policy Review Committee are asked to advise the Executive Member as to the adequacy of current arrangements for recognition and any recommendations for improvement.

1.4 This paper is the basis for discussion and Education Policy Review Committee may wish to put further ideas before the Executive Member for decision.

2 The Hampshire Background

2.1 Hampshire has 541 governing bodies and 8250 governorships. The quality of school governance as judged by Ofsted shows more good, very good or excellent governing bodies than nationally. Recruitment of school governors has become more difficult in the last few years and retention is beginning to be an issue. Recent analysis of retention rates show that in general in the last few years 10% of new governors left in their first year, a further 15% in the second year, and a further 25% failed to complete their 4 year term. Of the remaining 50% half went on to a further term in post. The Education Development Plan 2002-7 includes a target to improve governor retention.

2.2 Arrangements for valuing and recognising the contribution of school governors will not of themselves address the issues of either recruitment or retention. They are, however, important in their own right and ripe for review. Similarly whilst it is important that the County Council is seen to value the role and those that fulfil it, the greatest sense of satisfaction and worth for individual governors derives from their treatment by the governing body and headteacher of their own school.

3 Current Practice in Hampshire

3.1 General

· A welcome pack to all new governors

· Introductory training to all new governors

· Briefings on new legislation and Hampshire policies

· A termly newsletter to all governors and clerks

· Regular Area Forums to enable discussion of current and future issues

· Yearly conferences held across the county

· Engagement with the County Governors Forum in the formulation of policy

· A governor website offering information about governor issues

3.2 General Recognition of Individual Governors

· Sending a standard letter of thanks when a governor resigns

· Sending a standard letter of thanks to all governors on completion of a 4 year term of office

· Awarding Certificates for Long Service after 10 years

3.3 Special Recognition of Individual Governors

· Sending personalised letters to those governors who have made a special contribution i.e. additional governors or those governors who have taken a school through special measures/serious weaknesses or a good Ofsted Inspection (at the discretion of governor co-ordinators in local offices)

· Awarding Certificates of Outstanding Service on the nomination of the governing body

· Periodically the Chairman of the County Council holds a reception for Hampshire County Council staff who have served 25 years. Since 1997 school governors who have been awarded Outstanding Service Certificates have been included in these events.

3.4 National Recognition of Individual Governors

3.4.1 Governors (including some from Hampshire) are increasingly recognised in the Honours System.

4 Practice Nationally

4.1 Twenty LEAs responded to an electronic request for information on their practice. The results tend to suggest that Hampshire's current arrangements consistently implemented would place them ahead of many authorities. Practices which might be worthy of more consideration include:

· Governor of the month - A basket of fruit/bunch of flowers to a governor performing exceptionally

· Letters of thanks for service signed by CEO/Executive Member (in Hampshire Governor Services staff sign them)

· Civic reception

5 The Consistency and Effectiveness of Current Hampshire arrangements

5.1 Arrangements at 3.1 above are consistently applied throughout the county.

5.2 Whilst the letters of thanks in 3.2 are standard, only one area has taken the opportunity afforded by the new database facility for despatching Long Service Certificates automatically. The remaining areas still await the nomination from individual governing bodies. The 340 Long Service Certificates issued since 1996 would tend to suggest that governing bodies for whatever reason are not alerting local offices of all those governors entitled to receive them.

5.3 The award of Certificates for Outstanding Services are currently on the nomination of the governing body and at the end of a governor's service. Some 136 such certificates have been awarded in the last 6 years. The number of nominations being received is falling suggesting that if this practice is to continue there is a need to raise its profile. Recipients of Certificates of Outstanding Service are currently invited to attend the award ceremony for HCC staff completing 25 years service. It is not known how many accept the invitation but it is arguable whether this is in any case the most suitable event.

5.4 Individual letters recognising the special contribution of governing bodies or individual governors are the current practice in one area only. Here they are re-active, perhaps following a successful Ofsted; removal from special measures; the effective contribution of an additional governor in a school of concern.

6 National Recognition of Hampshire Governors

6.1 Individuals could be nominated through the County Council with the support of the County Education Officer or directly by individuals or governing bodies to the Cabinet Office. Currently the latter route is used in Hampshire, should this remain the case?

7 Issues

7.1 General

7.1.1 Present arrangements are generally low cost and would remain so even if more consistently implemented. In 1995 when consulted governors were of the view that arrangements for recognising their contribution though welcome, should be modest in their impact on time and financial resources. Consultations with County Governors' Forum in Summer 2002 suggest that any revisions or improvements would need to maintain costs overall at a low level in order to command the support of governing bodies.

7.1.2 Existing awards for Outstanding Service are made on the recommendation of individual governing bodies. They do not require officer involvement in any assessment process. Any more formal arrangements for assessing an individual's contribution would be costly in terms of human resource and probably contentious in its implementation. Any extension of the arrangements needs to be against relatively simple and objective criteria.

7.2 Long Service Certificates

7.2.1 Certificates currently recognise 10 years service. Is this still appropriate? Is there support for recognising length of service at 4, 8 and 12 years?

7.2.2 Only one office despatches Long Service Certificates automatically. All could do so.

7.3 Outstanding Service Certificates

7.3.1 Currently these are issued on the nomination of the governing body at retirement from office. A governing body could nominate an individual at any stage of their governorship.

7.3.2 The County Council could itself recognise the contribution of individuals by issuing Outstanding Service Certificates. For example, to additional governors after their service in schools of concern, to local governors forum officers, to members of County Governor Forum

7.4 County Council Receptions

7.4.1 Inviting recipients of Outstanding Service Awards to existing County Council receptions minimises the cost. However, an award ceremony for HCC staff with 25 years service is arguably not the appropriate event. Other possibilities might include invitation to County Council events which recognise "citizenship" or "partnership with the voluntary sector". Alternatively the Executive Member for Education seeks advice on whether a periodic event recognising solely the contribution of school governors should be hosted by him. It is envisaged that these would be invitation events on a relatively small scale (approximately 30 individuals), two or three times a year for Outstanding Service Award recipients.

7.5 Individual letters and other activities

7.5.1 Occasional letters of thanks could be commended to all areas and sent when appropriate at the discretion of the local Governor Services Co-ordinator, the CEO, or Executive Member.

7.5.2 Are there other activities that the Executive Member should be asked to consider? For instance the County Governors' Forum suggested that the County Council might introduce a `Hampshire Hog' badge to mark service as a governor.

8 Resource Implications

8.1 Executive Member receptions would be relatively low cost possibly £150-250 per event. Other costs would be from within existing resources.

Recommendations

That the Executive Member approves the following priorities:-

1. That Certificates recognising 4 and 8 years service are sent automatically

2. That Outstanding Service Awards are issued on the nomination of governing bodies/or by the County Council to recognise additional service to governance beyond the individual school

3. That Outstanding Service Awards are re-launched and given improved visibility in the County

4. That the Executive Member hosts occasional invitation events for Outstanding Award recipients

Section 100D - Local Government Act 1972 - Background Papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

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