Sunday 10 June 2012

Sharing Best Practice: Manchester Code of Conduct


The governing body accepts the following principles and procedures:

General


1.      We have responsibility for determining, monitoring and keeping under review the broad policies, plans and procedures within which the school operates.

2.      We recognise that the head teacher is responsible for the implementation of policy and day-today management of the school and the implementation and operation of the curriculum.

3.      We accept that all governors have equal status, and although appointed by different groups (i.e., parents, staff, local authority, diocese) our overriding concern will be the welfare of the school as a whole.

4.      We have no legal authority to act individually, except when the governing body has given us delegated authority to do so.

5.      We have a duty to act fairly and without prejudice, and in so far as we have responsibility for staff, we will fulfil all the legal expectations as, or on behalf of, the employer.

6.      We will encourage open government and should be seen to be doing so.

7.      We will consider carefully, how our decisions may affect other schools.

Commitment


8.      We acknowledge that accepting office as a governor involves the commitment of significant amounts of time and energy.

9.      We will each involve ourselves actively in the work of the governing body, attend meetings regularly, and accept our fair share of responsibilities, including membership of committees or working groups.

10.   We will get to know the school well and respond to opportunities to involve ourselves in school activities.

11.   We will ensure that our individual and collective needs for training and development are consistently monitored, and opportunities to undertake relevant training are encouraged.

Relationships

12.   We will strive to work as a team.

13.   We will seek to develop effective working relationships with our head teacher, staff, parents, the local authority, and other relevant agencies (including the diocesan authorities where appropriate), and the community.

Confidentiality

14.   We will observe confidentiality regarding proceedings of the governing body in meetings and from our visits to school as governors.

15.   We will observe complete confidentiality when required or asked to do so by the governing body, especially regarding matters concerning individual staff or students.

16.   We will exercise the greatest prudence if a discussion of a potentially contentious issue affecting the school arises outside the governing body.

Conduct

17.   We will encourage the open expression of views at meetings, but accept collective responsibility for all decisions made by the governing body or its delegated agents. We will not speak out against decisions, in public or private, outside the governing body.

18.   We will only speak or act on behalf of the governing body when we have been specifically authorised to do so.

19.   In making or responding to criticism or complaints affecting the school we will follow the procedures established by the governing body.

20.   Our visits to school will be undertaken within the framework established by the governing body, in agreement with the head teacher and staff.

21.   In discharging our duties we will always be mindful of our responsibility to maintain and develop the ethos and reputation of our school.

Suspension

22.   If the need arises to use the sanction of suspending a governor, we will do so by following the procedures regulations so as to ensure a fair and objective process.

Removal

23.   We recognise that removing a governor from office is a last resort, and that it is the appointing bodies, which have the power to remove those they appoint.

24.   If the need arises to use the sanction of removing a governor, we will do so by following the constitution regulations so as to ensure a fair and objective process.

A word copy can be downloaded from here 




No comments:

Post a Comment