Key Area 1:  Do we have the right skills on the governing body?

Priority

What outcome do we want?

What will we do to achieve this outcome?

Who will do it/

Ensure it happens

How will the GB check on progress?

Deadline

What resources

 and training

 are needed?

1.1

Membership and gaps identified from skills audit 

All essential skills to be covered by governors in post

During current recruitment prioritise candidates with knowledge of Early Years, HR and School Systems

Utilise local contacts , register with Inspiring Governance and SGOSS

Chair and governing body

To be reported under membership agenda item.

ongoing

None

1.2

Induction

New governors are given information about the school and the GB on appointment so that they can effectively carry out their role as soon as possible

1.New governors given school induction pack

2. All new Governors to complete LA and School based Induction training

3.Allocate a governor mentor as part of the induction process

Training Governor

Progress to be reported in the minutes of FGB meetings

ongoing

1.3

Continued Professional Development

Regular and sustainable actions demonstrating the commitment of governors to their own development

Develop an annual CPD and training plan to address gaps in knowledge, based on:

·       future agenda items and school priorities

·       use the skills audit to inform 1-1 interviews with all governors

Chair/Training governor

Report under governor development item

ongoing

Training

In house

Knowledge

Sharing

1-1

questions from GSS

Key Area 2:  Are we as effective as we could be?

Priority

What outcome do we want?

What will we do to achieve this outcome?

Who will do it/

Ensure it happens

How will the GB check on progress?

Deadline

What

Resources

And

Training

Needed?

2.1

Content and consistency of all minutes

Minutes of governing body  to be a concise and accurate reflection of discussions and provide evidence of:

GB working at a strategic level

Challenging the executive leadership through effective questioning and follow up actions

Professional clerk in place for meetings

Opportunity to shadow other governing bodies/committees through Discovery Partnership

All members/clerk

Evidence in minutes and governor visit forms linked to the Ofsted and school priorities

ongoing

GSS

support

(included

in

SLA)

2.2

Sharing knowledge

Share learning from training undertaken with all governors. 

Share knowledge and information arising out of school visits

Written feedback reports to be circulated to all governors (short template available from GSS)

Governor visit forms to be circulated to all governors following visits into school

All

To be reported under governor development item and governors with monitoring roles

ongoing

None

Key Area 3:  Are we fulfilling our statutory responsibilities?

Priority

What outcome do we want?

What will we do to achieve this outcome?

Who will do it/

Ensure it happens

How will the GB check on progress?

Deadline

What

resources

and

Training

Needed

3.1

Specific monitoring duties

Oversight of key areas of strategic importance

Allocate all governors with specific monitoring duties such as SEND, Early Years, Pupil Premium and Phase Leaders and create a plan for visits 

Re-allocate duties when vacancies filled so all governors are contributing and SEND is a joint monitoring responsibility

Full governing body

Up dated membership list and list of governors with specific monitoring responsibilities

Minutes of meetings clearly evidences actions of governors with specific monitoring responsibilities and impact

ongoing

Specific

monitoring

responsibility

guidance from

GSS

3.2

Reports from governor visits focusing on Ofsted priorities

Greater involvement from governors in monitoring Ofsted priorities

Governor visit forms to be circulated to all governors following visits into school

Chair

To  be reflected in minutes of meetings

Governor folder in place for visit forms

ongoing

Governor visit form

3.3

Policies

Forward planning and a concise document detailing each policy, when it was last reviewed and the next scheduled review date.

Review agendas for the year ahead and consider non statutory policies to be added to agendas

Chair/John Feaster/ HT

Policy planner to be updated and referenced when policies are reviewed in future meetings.

ongoing

GSS model

Policy

HT Planner

Key Area 4:  Do we have a clear vision for the school?

Priority

What outcome do we want?

What will we do to achieve this outcome?

Who will do it/

Ensure it happens

How will the GB check on progress?

Deadline

What

 resources

 and training

 are needed?

4.1

School development plan

An updated plan supported by governor involvement which reflects Ofsted priorities

Agree how the plan will be shaped and presented to governors

SIA/Chair and HT

ongoing

None

A school development plan with clear milestones, success criteria and a schedule detailing how school improvement priorities will be monitored and by which governor(s) during the year

Arrange visits to monitor significant aspects, including how policies and procedures are implemented

Feedback to FGB

FGB Chairs with support from HT

To be reported to FGB

ongoing

Availability

of

school staff

during visits

4.2

SEF (Self Evaluation Form)

Governors involvement to ensure SEF accurately reflects the context of the school

All governors to have a sound understanding of the content of the SEF

HT/Chair

To be an agenda item

ongoing

Key Area 5:  Are we having an impact on outcomes for pupils?

Priority

What outcome do we want?

What will we do to achieve this outcome?

Who will do it/

Ensure it happens

How will the GB check on progress?

Deadline

What

resources

and training

 needed?

5.1

Data

Governors  to have a good understanding of

·  progress of pupils

·  how this is tracked in school

·  links to actions in the school development plan 

Training to be arranged for governors

Data governor to attend specific training

Governor visits

Teaching Learning Committee

Data Governor

FGB

To be reported under governor development item.

Training record

Governor visit forms

ongoing

None

5.2

School assessment system and procedures

All governors  to have a good knowledge of school assessment procedures and how this is moderated

Presentations at meetings

Governor visits

Chair/Training governor

To be evidenced in committee minutes

ongoing

Availability of

staff lead in

 school

5.3

Pupil premium

Governors to have a good understanding of the spend and impact of government grant funding

Update report on website

Use agenda items in meetings to ask questions and challenge information provided to ensure impact

Utilise best practice from other schools

HT

FGB

Pupil Premium Governor

Discussion and challenge to be evidenced in governing body minutes

ongoing

None

5.4

Early Years Provision

Improve the quality of provision in early years

Early Years governor attends training

GB focus

Provision is closely monitored, evaluated for improvement and impact

Early Years Governor

Reported back through Committees

ongoing

SIA

Key Area 6:  Do we hold school leaders to account?

Priority

What outcome do we want?

What will we do to achieve this outcome?

Who will do it/

Ensure it happens

How will the GB check on progress?

Deadline

What resources

and training

needed?

6.1

Quality of teaching

Governors to know the profile of teaching across school and be confident  that:

Robust support systems are in place to develop teachers

Governors to receive overview of Quality of teaching report from HT and provide challenge

SIA/HT

FGB

To be reported in the minutes of meetings

ongoing

None

Key Area 7:  Does the Governing Body show strong and effective leadership?

Priority

What outcome do we want?

What will we do to achieve this outcome?

Who will do it/

Ensure it happens

How will the GB check on progress?

Deadline

What resources

and training

are needed?

7.1

Chair/ Vice Chair

Succession planning in place for new Chair and Vice Chair

Chairs’ training

Mentoring by current Chair

Current Chair

GSS

Governing body minutes

Training record

ongoing

GSS