Holding your school to account: how governors can challenge effectively An on-line programme Governing bodies should work to support and strengthen the leadership of the headteacher and hold them to account for the day-to-day running of the school. This programme will look at what aspects of the school’s performance governors should be questioning and how they can challenge in a supportive and positive way to improve outcomes for pupils.
The programme will help you to understand • • • •
The strategic leadership role of school governors Challenges for governors in understanding and using a range of data The governing body’s role in Ofsted How governors evaluate their own impact and develop their skills
Learning mode Participants will engage in 3-4 hours of online and self-supported learning for each of the four units of the course. Each unit goes 'live' on the website every two weeks. Participants will have access to key research and materials throught the course website. The programme has core and optional materials so participants can choose how much time they can give each week. Participants will deepen their learning through: • Reading activities • Group activities linked to your school / leadership team • Websites / videos • On-line discussions
What are benefits of an online training programme for governors? Busy governors can access the learning anywhere, at any time and not have to travel at the end of a working day. Groups of governors from one school, across alliances or partnerships can benefit from the flexible course structure. A ‘virtual’ learning network ensures that governors can engage in discussion with other governors to share practice, debate and receive support from a governor expert. A flexible course content provides choice about how much or little you can fit in as there are core sections & optional sections. Participants awarded with a certificate of successful completion
Programme structure
Fees for 2015
Week 1 Context data and school self-evaluation • What do you understand by monitoring? • What is the role of governors in school self-evaluation? • What data do governing bodies use? • What to expect from your headteacher’s report • How reliable is this evidence and how do you know?
£290 per person
Week 2 Understanding and using pupil learning data • What pupil learning data is available and what does it mean? • How do governors use data to challenge and hold the school to account? • The purpose of governor visits • Performance management
Online programme
Week 3 Understanding and using process data • What process data is available to governors and how this is used to improve outcomes for pupils? • The governors’ role in Ofsted • Pupil Premium Week 4 Understanding and using perceptions of stakeholders • How do governors seek the views of pupils, parents and other stakeholders? • How is this information used to inform school self-evaluation and strategic planning? • How do governors report on the information? • How do governors evaluate their own impact and develop their skills?
Programme dates Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4
25 March 8 April 15 April 29 April
2015 2015 2015 2015
Registration To register for this programme please email: t.lancaster@ioe.ac.uk