wiserd_blog

High performing school needing to find additional income through staff secondment

What was the issue addressed? The financial disadvantages to school budgets and support by being a high performing school with minimal PDG, take up of free school meals etc. What happened? We are constantly looking for other avenues of funding, which mainly involves the Head or another teacher being seconded out to the LEA orContinue reading “High performing school needing to find additional income through staff secondment”

Encouraging greater governor engagement

What was the issue addressed? It is hard to understand why some governors are happy to attend meetings but don’t feel they have much to add when in the meetings and don’t volunteer to take on work afterwards. It could be due to lack of confidence on their part in the value that they canContinue reading “Encouraging greater governor engagement”

Safeguarding issues and need for LA support

What was the issue addressed? Difficulty arising from safeguarding pupils who have very high support needs which are potentially too much for school staff to cope with effectively. Issues arose with a very few pupils causing high risk situations (one with a blade), to staff and other pupils. Pupils with such high support needs haveContinue reading “Safeguarding issues and need for LA support”

Financial shortfall and potential redundancies

What was the issue addressed? Potential redundancies due to budget shortfall. The effect on staff morale. The impact on children’s learning. The impact on meeting requirements to raise standards. Satisfying all stakeholders that we are trying to provide an excellent service for all during trying financial times. The impact of not having a budgetary forecastContinue reading “Financial shortfall and potential redundancies”

Getting to grips with the role

What was the issue addressed? There is no shortcut to the fact that when you start as a governor (as in any job), there is an awful lot to learn. In my experience the process of induction is still very paper-led and, as such, learning is very one-way. There are some existing support structures inContinue reading “Getting to grips with the role”

Research background

Research was carried out by WISERD with the aim of understanding how school governors in Wales could be supported in their work. Data collection involved in-depth interviews with governors connected to Cardiff University and a survey of governors, administered nationally. Findings from these data led us to develop governor generated case studies. The aims ofContinue reading “Research background”