Andrew Doran attended an HfL course a while ago and, building on his experience of this course, has written the following illuminating article about how he went about recruiting. This article has been reposted with permission; Andrew often posts commentary, random thoughts (such as this humdinger “Does the Friendly Giant really need the prefix ‘Big’? Isn’t that just a given? “), and Continue reading “Recruiting School Governors”
Including lots of great attractions, the Herts Show will also see HASG supporting the Governor Recruitment Roadshow this year. Located in the Herts County Council Marquee why not pop along and say hello?
Other attractions include:
Motocross Stunt Show,
Devil’s Horsemen,
Scurry Driving display,
All Human Circus,
Traditional Crafts,
Titan the Robot,
Eagle & Vulture Show,
Victorian Travelling Show,
Farm animals,
Suffolk Punch Horses,
Food hall,
Shopping and much more!
The show runs on 28th & 29th May and tickets are on sale now with advance tickets at a 20% discount:
Adult – £14.80
Child – £7.20 (5yrs – 15yrs, under 5’s free)
Family – £36.80 (admits two adults and two children)
Senior – £13.20
Call 0344 850 2111 to book or visit their website to book online.
These networks are recommended for Chairs, Vice Chairs and Chairs of Committees particularly. Those attending should feed back to their governing body. When you receive this briefing, you may like to forward it on to your Vice Chair and Chairs of Committees and also your Headteacher. If you have any queries about the Networks or topics you would like discussed, please contact kathy.dunnett@nullhertsforlearning.co.uk
The independent is reporting that during an appearance on BBC2’s Newsnight on Monday, Sir Michael Wilshaw, chief inspector of schools in England and head of Ofsted, was asked if he would back the banning of the coverings in schools, to which he answered: “Yes, I would.”
The Education Committee’s report on the role of Regional Schools Commissioners (RSCs) finds that more work is needed to improve the transparency, accountability and working relationships of RSCs. Eight RSCs were appointed in 2014 with responsibility for approving and monitoring academies and free schools in their region.
Schools with sixth forms are going through a time of transition. Over the next few years governing boards will be faced with difficult decisions around the 16-19 curriculum offer, budgeting, collaborations and, in some cases, the future sustainability of a school’s sixth-form. NGA has responded by producing a new comprehensive guide to assist boards in making these decisions. Although aimed at those governing in schools where a sixth form provision already exists, the guidance will also help boards considering the viability of opening new provision in their school. See website for details.
Governor Recruitment – Inspiring the Future Website
Inspiring the Future has released two new videos to showcase how its free online matchmaking service works to connect prospective governors with schools and colleges nationwide. Volunteers sign up to become a governor or trustee, giving their location and listing the skills and experience they can bring to a board. Governing boards seeking new governors can view all the volunteers in their area or specify the skills they’re looking for, connect with volunteers directly and begin the process of recruiting. http://www.inspiringthefuture.org/inspiring-governors/governors-sign-up-as-a-volunteer/Click here to see the new videos
Do you know other chairs of governors who could be NLGs?
Our next designation round will open on Monday 22 February 2016. We’re looking for high quality, experienced chairs that have the capacity and expertise to support other chairs to improve their governing bodies. We’re particularly interested in chairs with experience of governance in multi-academy trusts. This round will be targeted geographically to ensure we have NLGs in the areas with the greatest need. Hertfordshire is a targeted area.
If you know any colleagues who meet the eligibility criteria, please encourage them to visit our web pages for potential applicants.
Local Opportunities and Information
Schools Financial Value Standard Return 2015-16
All maintained schools must submit a Schools Financial Value Standard (SFVS) Return for the year ended 31 March 2016 to their local authority. In Hertfordshire, returns must be emailed to the Shared Internal Audit Service (SIAS) at sias@nullhertfordshire.gov.uk by 15 April 2016.
Returns should be completed in excel using the 2015 template on the Grid at http://www.thegrid.org.uk/info/internal_audit/sfvs_guidance.shtml. This allows SIAS to analyse and use the data contained in all returns and comply with the requirement that data in the forms is used to inform audit coverage.
The template contains the Department for Education’s current SFVS guidance for completion of the 2015-16 return.
In order to complete the return, governors must consider the financial controls operating in the school over the past twelve months. Dependent on arrangements in an individual school, the completion of the return should be an agenda item for either the full governing body or the finance committee. Once complete, the return should be emailed to sias@nullhertfordshire.gov.uk. A paper copy signed by the Chair of Governors should be kept at the school.
Individualised guidance can be purchased from SIAS at a cost of £350 per day should your school need personalised support.
If you have a query that can’t be answered from the information provided on the Grid, then please contact Sally-Anne Pearcey on 01438 845516 or email sally-anne.pearcey@nullhertfordshire.gov.uk.
Teach in Herts Teacher Recruitment Fair 2016
Following the success of the first Teach in Herts Teacher Recruitment Fair in 2015, the Board of Herts for Learning has committed to proactively help fund and support Hertfordshire schools once again, by running a second teacher recruitment fair on Saturday19th March 2016 at Hertfordshire Development Centre, Stevenage.
All Hertfordshire shareholding schools are once again invited to attend and exhibit on a stand free of charge.
The event is restricted to HfL shareholding schools only and no third party agencies will be permitted to attend.
Stands at the event can be booked from Monday 18th January 2016. To book for your school/cluster of schools, please email teachinherts@nullhertsforlearning.co.uk. Space is limited and stands will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Closing date for booking a stand is Monday 7th March 2016. Guidance on putting a stand together will be provided by the Herts for Learning Events team and will emailed to you once your stand booking has been confirmed.
The recruitment fair will be open between 10.00am and 3.30pm and attending schools should have staff available on their stand for the whole day. Many attendees that arrived mid-afternoon last year were disappointed to find a number of schools had left prior to the end of the event. Wherever possible, materials for your stand should be delivered to Hertfordshire Development Centre during the afternoon of Friday 18th March.
Further information and marketing materials to promote the recruitment fair through governor, staff and parent networks will be sent out to schools over the coming weeks. We would appreciate it if you could disseminate these widely to promote the event and help to make it a success for all.
The Exchange – January/February edition
The January/February edition of the paper is now in schools, with a spotlight on science including ideas for science week, how to take part in Safer Internet Day 2016 and also news from Hertfordshire schools’ and Herts for Learning.
This HfL monthly newspaper has something for all staff based in schools and school governors, whether looking for a little light reading on current educational news or for courses to further your professional development.
Hertfordshire school contacts British astronaut Major Tim Peake
P2P pilot launches in secondary school
and much more!
Do you have something you want us to cover? Get in touch! The Exchange Team – 01438 844331
If you or your chair of governors would like to receive extra copies for the governing body please get in touch. We welcome any feedback or content suggestions for future editions.
For all Chairs – new, experienced, Chairs of Governors, Vice Chairs and Chairs of Committees.
It is advised to undertake the whole course, as the skills are built up throughout the two terms that it runs, from January to July every year. Book now on the website.
Governors play a key role in the success of all our schools
The following article, written by Michael Scandrett, Chair of the Herts Association of School Governors, was published in the 3rd September edition of The Comet:
Despite what you may hear to the contrary, our education system in the UK is not all doom and gloom. In fact, we have an education system of which we should be rightly proud, and in Hertfordshire we have a track record of excellence that rates us among the best in the country – as recent successes at GCSE and A-level help to demonstrate, although that’s not to be taken as the only measure of a successful school.
However, that success does not happen by accident.
It is all due to the dedication, commitment, caring and professionalism of our headteachers, teachers, caretakers, lunchtime supervisors, nursery specialists, classroom assistants and the myriad of others who deliver their best for our children.
They are worth their weight in gold. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
The school governor, though, is one role that does not always get the credit it deserves.
All schools, including academies, have a governing body made up of men and women from the locality, from all walks of life, and with the role of holding the school to account and ensuring that standards are maintained.
Governors are unpaid posts yet form a key part of a school leadership team but they are not there to run schools – that falls to the head teacher.
However, they are accountable for the appointment and performance of the headteacher, to steer the school vision with its aims and objectives, and to ensure financial best value and support to enable the staff to provide an excellent learning environment.
In Herts we have more than 500 schools, including academies. This means that there are more than 5,000 governors across the county, but about 10 per cent of the posts need to filled. Our schools need people like you!
Remember being a governor is not just about attending meetings. It is much more about being part of your local school and local community while making a contribution towards the development and learning of young people who are the citizens of tomorrow.
Governors are there to ensure that schools are run well, to shape their future and that children thrive and enjoy learning. Being part of that is a reward in itself. And if you are already serving in this role, you should be proud to be a governor – I know I am.
The Hemel Roadshow recently attracted interest from the local newspaper ensuring that the message gets spread even further. hemeltoday reported the event as follows:
Governors roadshow comes to Hemel Hempstead – Mike Scandrett, chairman of the Herts Association of School Governors is 2nd on left.
A school governor recruitment roadshow will be stopping off at the Volunteer Centre in Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead, on Saturday, June 27.
Schools and academies are being rallied with the support of the Hertfordshire Association of School Governors (HASG) and Herts for Learning, to recruit people for their governing bodies.
The district of Hemel Hempstead has been identified as having recruitment problems currently, which is why HASG are delighted that the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Robert Mclean and MP Mike Penning are supporting this event, to raise the profile of the role and encourage people to volunteer.
Mike Scandrett, chairman of the Hertfordshire Association of School Governors said:
Being a governor is not just about attending meetings. It is much more about being part of your local school and local community while making a contribution towards the development and learning of young people who are the citizens of tomorrow. Governors are there to ensure that schools are run well, to shape their future and that children thrive and enjoy learning. Being part of that is a reward in itself. Be proud to be a governor. I am.
As a school governor you are part of the strategic leadership team for the school. You will steer the school vision, aims and objectives, ensure financial best value and support and enable the staff to provide an excellent learning environment. Could you be a school governor?
If you have the time and commitment to help improve the education of the pupils in your chosen school
If you are prepared to attend governors’ meetings and visit the school
If you are prepared to attend training to ensure that you fully understand your role then you would make an ideal school or academy governor.
There has already been a successful event in Stevenage earlier in June, when local MP Stephen McPartland said:
It is really important we get people with the right skills to volunteer as School Governors. It is an incredibly rewarding position and makes a massive impact on the quality of education locally. School Governors work closely with staff to ensure the resources are available to make a difference to every child’s education and help them succeed in life.
On Friday 26 June, between 4 – 6 pm David Owen (Governance Trainer and Disc Jockey) will be playing an interview recorded with Kathy Dunnett, in her role as Vice Chair of Herts Association of School Governors) talking about governance and how to be a governor. It will be played around 4.45 – 5pm.
The station is internet based and you can listen via:
If anyone knows anyone with a fascinating story or passion for a subject, David is always looking for people to interview! Contact David Owen on thediscoveryshow@nullgmail.com
Governor Recruitment Roadshow Comes to County Hall
Schools and Academies from across Hertfordshire were rallied with the support of the Hertfordshire Association of School Governors (HASG) and Herts for Learning, to recruit people for their governing bodies. They held a Governor Recruitment Event last Tuesday, a close event for the staff at County Hall in Hertford, and there are other events planned for the Apsley site and Farnham House, Stevenage which will take place later in June.
Deputy Mayor Councillor John Lloyd and volunteer from Homerswood School, Letchworth.Deputy Mayoress, Councillor Mrs Joan Lloyd with Michael Scandrett, Chair of Hertfordshire Association of School Governors, and governor volunteers from Stevenage SchoolsLocal MP Stephen McPartland and Kathy Dunnett, Vice Chair from HASG and local potential recruit.
Governor Recruitment Roadshow Comes to Stevenage – 6th June, Daneshill House
Schools and Academies in the Stevenage area were rallied with the support of the Hertfordshire Association of School Governors (HASG) and Herts for Learning, to recruit people for their governing bodies. They held a Governor Recruitment Event last Saturday at the Council Offices in Stevenage Town Centre; and there are several other events which will take place throughout June in other areas across Hertfordshire.
The district of Stevenage has been identified as having recruitment problems currently, which is why HASG are delighted that the Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayoress, Councillor John Lloyd CC and Councillor Mrs Joan Lloyd and the local MP Stephen McPartland supported this event, to raise the profile of the role and encourage people to volunteer.
Mike Scandrett, Chair of the Hertfordshire Association of School Governors stated…
Being a Governor is not just about attending meetings. It is much more about being part of your local school and local community while making a contribution towards the development and learning of young people who are the citizens of tomorrow. Governors are there to ensure that schools are run well, to shape their future and that children thrive and enjoy learning. Being part of that is a reward in itself. Be proud to be a Governor. I am.
As a school governor you are part of the strategic leadership team for the school. You will steer the school vision, aims and objectives, ensure financial best value and support and enable the staff to provide an excellent learning environment. Could you be a school governor?
If you have the time and commitment to help improve the education of the pupils in your chosen school
If you are prepared to attend governors’ meetings and visit the school
If you are prepared to attend training to ensure that you fully understand your role
Then you would make an ideal school or academy governor!
Despite what you may hear to the contrary, our education system in the UK is not all doom and gloom. In fact, we have an education system of which we should be rightly proud, and in Hertfordshire we have a track record of excellence that rates us among the best in the country – as recent successes at GCSE and A-level help to demonstrate, although that’s not to be taken as the only measure of a successful school.
