Author Archives: wiserd_blog

Commentary One of the main roles for the governing body is setting financial priorities for the school and monitoring expenditure against the school’s budget.  Whilst funding is allocated on a year-by-year basis (depending on pupil numbers in the main), it is best practice for the governing body and staff at the school to plan theContinue reading “How to cover budget shortfalls”

Commentary Appointing a new headteacher is probably the most important task the governing body has to undertake.  The skills of the headteacher are particularly important in securing the success and improvement of the school. The best headteachers are the driving force in taking a school forward and ensuring a strong commitment to high standards inContinue reading “Appointing a new headteacher key to addressing other school issues”

Commentary School Human Resource issues can be very complex, so it is important that governing bodies review their policies and are familiar with the correct processes to follow. Your Local Authority may also provide a range of training for you to attend, particularly if you are a member of any of the relevant statutory committees,Continue reading “Addressing concerns caused by recurrent teacher absences”

Commentary The school was in a difficult position, having gone through the appointment process a number of times.  The appointment panel would usually appoint the best candidate for the role, and appointing someone that doesn’t quite meet the standard that was needed was a gamble, but has paid off at this school.   Never feel pressurisedContinue reading “Appointing a less than satisfactory subject specialist teacher”

Commentary The school and governing body are absolutely right to check and review its emergency evacuation plans. This is of utmost importance for the safety of all at the school. Community school buildings and land are owned by the local authority (LA).  The land at foundation schools is owned by the governing body or trustees. Continue reading “Establishing correct health and safety policies”

Commentary Every school will have performance management policy that sets out the parameters for the performance management process of school teaching staff and the headteacher. Performance management provides the school teaching staff with the opportunity to reflect on and assess their practice against the professional standards during the year https://hwb.gov.wales/professional-development/professional-standards  Objectives will be set whichContinue reading “Reviewing and changing the evidence needed in a headteacher performance review”

Commentary This is an interesting situation. It would be useful to know more about the background and circumstances of how the initial arrangements were established. It is assumed that the school is a community school but the legal set up and contractual arrangements for both organisations are not clear. Are they separate entities from theContinue reading “What happens when external organisations fall out on school premises”

Commentary It is good practice for a governing body to undertake a skills audit to identify the skills and knowledge that members of the governing body already have. It also enables the governing body to fill any gaps and align future training programmes to individual governor requirements.  Governors Cymru Services has a skills audit thatContinue reading “Using the experiences and expertise of governors to address school issues”

Commentary One of the main responsibilities of governing bodies is “setting policies for the school for achieving the aims and objectives”.  Source: The Terms of Reference (Wales) Regulation 2000. Schools have numerous policies in place, many of which are statutory, which all need to be kept up to date and must be fit for purpose.  Continue reading “How to make sure policies are fit for purpose”

Commentary Community school buildings and land are owned by the local authority (LA).  The land at foundation schools is owned by the governing body or trustees.  In Voluntary Aided (VA) schools, the school buildings and land are usually owned by trustees, although the Local Authority may own the playing field land.  It is assumed inContinue reading “Addressing health and safety issues relating to the school building”