GOVERNOR NEWS ISSUE 27
SUMMER 2011
School & Governor Unit Staff Update I’m sure you will be pleased to hear that Ruth Rolfe has been appointed to the position of School Governor Officer and Chantal Bideleux has taken over in Ruth’s previous post as Administrative Support for Governing Bodies. Chantal will be married by the time you read this summer edition but she has decided not to change her surname. Perhaps she will be persuaded to include a photograph of her wedding in the autumn edition! I will take this opportunity to let you all know that I will be leaving the Local Authority at the end of the academic year after working in the School & Governor Unit for the last 15 years and in various other parts of the Education Dept for many years before that, and for the first 12 years of my career I was a primary school teacher. I have a long list of things planned for when I finish, the latest of which is that I have just become an Inspector for Estyn for Adult and Community Learning. Governors and Clerks to Governors tend to recognise me more quickly than I recognise you. There is only one of me and quite a lot of you, so it’s easier for you! However, if you see me after I have left the Education Dept, do stop to say hello. Jain Watkins School & Governor Unit Manager
Officers of the Management Committee of the Swansea Association of Governing Bodies are as follow: Chair Mr Jeff Bowen • Penyrheol Comprehensive • Casllwchwr Primary School Vice Chair Ms. Hazel Maguire • Ysgol Crug Glas
Treasurer Mr. Peter Meehan • Manselton Primary • Brynhyfryd Junior School Governor Wales Representative Mrs Carol Sayce • Bishop Gore Comprehensive
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Governor Training – no longer a choice? The Education Wales (Wales) Measure 2011 became law in May 2011. Along with other changes, the Welsh Government (note the change of name from Welsh Assembly Government) intends to strengthen the role of governing bodies. In line with its aim to raise standards in schools across Wales, the new Measure introduces a means to make regulations for the introduction of compulsory training for governors. Governors need to be knowledgeable in order to undertake their job effectively. The first areas that the Education Minister is likely to make compulsory are induction training for new governors, training for Chairs of Governors, and training on how to understand and use school performance data. In Swansea new governors have always been invited to attend a training session to introduce them to the role of governor, but attendance at the session has always had to rely on the enthusiasm of the newly appointed/elected individual. It seems that in the future attendance at induction training will become a condition of being accepted to the position of governor. Training for Chairs of Governors has been offered on a number of occasions in Swansea in the past and although feedback has always been extremely positive, attendance has been very disappointing. Swansea was ahead of the Welsh Government in its recognition that training for governors on Understanding School Data was essential if governors were going to be able properly to fulfil their roles and responsibilities in improving standards in pupil achievement. In promoting the highest standards of educational achievement governors must be involved in and agree to the school development plan. To do this effectively governing bodies must use school performance data regularly and with understanding. This is a role the governing body must share with the headteacher, with the governing body acting as a critical friend asking A CITY AND COUNTY OF LEARNING • DINAS A SIR O DDYSG
challenging, searching questions. School inspectors are required to evaluate how well governors are informed about the performance of the school and how well governors hold the school to account for the standards and quality it achieves. In future the Measure will also place a duty on Local Authorities to offer governing bodies access to a clerking service. Governing bodies will be able to continue to make their own arrangements if they so wish. LAs will be able to charge for any service they provide. A Wales wide standard will be set in regulations and training will need to be available for Clerks to Governors to meet that standard. In Swansea currently all new Clerks are offered training and a Forum is arranged for updating Clerks of new developments, changes in regulations, etc. Other topics covered in the Measure include collaboration across LAs and schools with a view to using public resources more efficiently and effectively. There are proposals to provide a shared service across Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, Powys and Swansea for some governor training and development and school based support. A core LA service for further governor training, recruitment and clerking would remain the responsibility of individual authorities. The Measure also gives power to LAs to arrange school federations to stimulate joint working, sharing of resources, unified leadership across several schools and strengthen governance. All the changes set out in the Measure will be in place by September 2012.
Jain Watkins School & Governor Unit Manager
A CITY AND COUNTY OF LEARNING • DINAS A SIR O DDYSG
School Budget Forum & School Budgets The School Budget Forum has not met since my last update to you in the Spring Term but this does not mean that work has not been going on behind the scenes! A Joint Finance Group of Primary and Secondary Headteachers and Authority Officers has been meeting, more or less weekly, to look at future budget pressures for the Education Department and options to mitigate these pressures. The main focus has been on delegation levels to schools. Welsh Ministers are keen to increase the percentage of the Education Budget that is delegated to schools - from the current 74% to 85% in the coming years. With additional delegation comes additional responsibility of course! You will no doubt be aware that a large amount of additional delegation (just over £6m) is proposed for April 2012 when the budget for supporting pupils with Severe and Complex needs is delegated to schools. This has already been subject to wide consultation with schools and
governors and will also form a part of our consultation on changes to the funding formula for 2012/13 budgets. The School Budget Forum is meeting in September and will be looking at this additional delegation as well as any other proposed changes that might be suggested for next year’s budgets. The Autumn Term’s Forum meeting will begin the task of preparing for the next financial year. School funding has been protected by the Minister and therefore we can expect at least a 1.58% increase overall for schools next year (before any additional delegation is applied). If anyone has any queries on school funding then please speak to your Headteacher or myself. And of course there is the Finance course for Governors that will be held in the Spring Term! Kelly Small School Funding & Information Manager Tel: 636686 kelly.small@swansea.gov.uk
A CITY AND COUNTY OF LEARNING • DINAS A SIR O DDYSG
Centralised on-line admissions As you may be aware, the Local Authority has taken a decision to implement a centralised, on-line admissions system to administer all applications to schools within the City & County of Swansea. The system will be introduced during the Autumn Term 2011 in order to facilitate admissions to secondary schools in Swansea for September 2012. Parents will be able to access application forms via the internet and submit completed application forms on-line directly to the School & Governor Unit. The new system will be extended to admissions to primary schools for September 2013. The number of parents accessing the on-line service is difficult to assess at this stage and therefore arrangements are being put in place to assist parents who may not be confident in completing online applications or who may not have access to the internet. Staff working in the Contact Centre at the Civic Centre building will be trained to support parents who wish to call to the Centre to complete and submit application
forms. It is also hoped to provide training for members of staff working in libraries across Swansea to be able to assist parents who may wish to complete and submit applications from their local library. It is also intended to train school administration staff so that that they will be able to assist any parents who require support in accessing, completing and submitting applications.
If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact Claire Davies School Admissions Officer Tel: 01792 635381 or email claire.davies3@Swansea.gov.uk
A CITY AND COUNTY OF LEARNING • DINAS A SIR O DDYSG
School Terms & Holiday Dates 2011/2012 Term
Term Begins
Term Ends
Autumn 2011
Friday 2 Sept
Friday 21 Oct
Mid Term Holidays Begins Ends
Monday 24 Oct
Friday 28 Oct
36 Spring 2012
Monday 9 Jan
Friday 10 Feb
Monday 13 Feb
Friday 17 Feb
25 Summer 2012
Monday 16 April
Friday 1 June
Monday 4 June
Friday 8 June
34 Bank Holidays 6 April 2012 Good Friday 9 April 2012 Easter Monday 7 May 2012 May Day
Term Begins
Term Ends
Total Days per Term
Monday 31 Oct
Thursday 22 Dec 39 Monday Friday 20 Feb 30 March 30 Monday Friday 11 June 20 July 30 TOTAL
4 June 2012 5 June 2012
75
55
64 194
Spring Bank Holiday Additional Bank Holiday
School Terms & Holiday Dates 2012/2013 Term
Term Begins
Term Ends
Autumn 2012
Monday 3 Sept
Friday 26 Oct
Mid Term Holidays Begins Ends
Monday 29 Oct
Friday 2 Nov
40 Spring 2013
Monday 7 Jan
Friday 8 Feb
Monday 11 Feb
Friday 15 Feb
25 Summer 2013
Monday 15 April
Friday 24 May 29
Bank Holidays 29 March 2013 Good Friday 1 April 2013 Easter Monday
Monday 27 May
Friday 31 May
Term Begins
Term Ends
Monday 5 Nov
Friday 21 Dec
35 Monday Thursday 18 Feb 28 March 29 Monday Tuesday 3 June 23 July 37 TOTAL
6 May 2013 27 May 2013
Total Days per Term
75
54
66 195
May Day Spring Bank Holiday