Governing body - an overview of responsibilities

In carrying out its day-to-day work, the governing body should give consideration to certain procedures the Department of Education requires or recommends it follows.


In the case of matters relating to constitution of the governing body, this article contains information drawn from the School Governance (Constitution)(England) Regulations 2007.

Responsibility

The governing body has general responsibility for the conduct of the school with view to promoting high standards of educational achievement. This general responsibility gives rise to a wide range of specific responsibilities which in turn require the governing body to establish a range of procedures.

• Allowances and expenses for governors
  • Governors should have a policy on payment of governors expenses. For more information see chapter 4 of A guide to the law for school governors.
• School prospectus
  • Each year the governing body must publish a school prospectus for parents and prospective parents. For further information on the school prospectus see chapters 12 and 25 of A guide to the law for school governors.
• Complaints (general and curriculum)
  • The governing body is required to have procedures in place for handling complaints of a general nature and for applying the LA's procedure for complaints about the curriculum.
• Constitution of the governing body and instrument of government
  • Chapters 2 and 3 of A guide to the law for school governors provide detailed information on how the governing body is constituted, the different types of governors and how they are appointed.
• Committees formation, delegation and operation
  • Although there are no statutory requirements for committees other than in relation to staff grievance and pupil discipline, many of the governing body's responsibilities and functions can be delegated to committees or individuals. For more information see chapter 3 of A guide to the law for school governors.
• Meetings of the governing body and its committees
  • Detailed information on meetings of the governing body and its committees is available in chapter 3 of A guide to the law for school governors. This includes information on quorum and when it is necessary to withdraw due to conflict of interest.
• Register of business interests of governors
  • The governing body is required to keep a register of business interests of its members. Further information about business and pecuniary interests can be found in annex 2 of A guide to the law for school governors.
• Standing orders and terms of reference
  • Many of the requirements and responsibilities placed on governing bodies are covered by legislation and well defined by guidance and recommended procedures. The Department recommends that for other procedures, the governing body develops a set of standing orders. These should clearly define how the governing body intends to establish and review these additional procedures.

Guidance

Chapter 3 of the Guide to the law for school governors provides detailed information about governing body procedures.

The law

The School Governance (Procedures)(England) Regulations 2003, as amended, provide the statutory requirements for governors procedures.


See the School Governance (Constitution)(England) Regulations 2007.


http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/957/contents/made