The distinction between governance and management

Governance and management

The distinction between governance and management needs to be clearly understood by all
involved, so that governors are not asked to, and do not try to, involve themselves in day to day management.

The governing body expects to be able to monitor the work of the school and to hold the headteacher to account for the performance of the school. It is vital
that the headteacher is present or is represented at full governing body meetings. However, other school leaders may represent the management of the school at other meetings. For example, the school business manager may be the appropriate person to attend budget monitoring meetings.

School leaders should not be micro-managed, and the governing body should concentrate on matters related to strategy and school effectiveness, delegating those tasks which are deemed to be managerial rather than strategic (for example the deployment of staff below leadership team level). School leadership teams should be fully involved in discussions of strategic issues

Taken from a joint document entitled 'What governing bodies should expect from school leaders and what school leaders should expect from governing bodies' The document was written in 2008 by the NGA (National Governors Association) working together with the two main headteacher’s unions, the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) and the National Association of Headteachers (NAHT).

http://www.nga.org.uk/uploadfiles/documents/HEGagreementamended.pdf