GLOUCESTERSHIRE GOVERNORS' ASSOCIATION

Enjoying the snow?
As I write, the world outside is white. I’m trying not to think about whether schools will be closed again tomorrow or how we’re all going to catch up on things cancelled in the last few days, but simply enjoying the beauty of it all and the huge pleasure in sledging, walking in the woods and having time just to be. I hope you have been able to enjoy it too.

Clawback of excess balances
Thanks to the 40%+ of Gloucestershire schools that responded to the clawback consultation in Dec./early Jan. This showed overwhelming support for the revised Scheme of Finance which was therefore accepted by the Forum as being the criteria that will apply to balances at the end of March 2009. You can see the Forum paper at  www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/utilities/action/
act_download.cfm?mediaid=28198 The details of the process that will be used to apply these criteria are yet to be agreed, but that should not matter in terms of supporting your school in making the best and most appropriate use of funds remaining this year and agreeing a sensible budget for 2009/10 and beyond.

School Uniform and Charging
Education Secretary Ed Balls made a strong statement about charging policy recently. The statement focused on school uniform and charges for trips and re-iterated the government view that some charges were excessive.
The updated DCSF guidance on charging can be found here.
The Minister's statement can be seen here.
The Cost of Schooling 2007 report, prepared by the British Market Research Bureau, can be found here

Our targets for 2008-9

As an Executive, we have set ourselves 3 goals for the next year to focus our effort. Our progress so far is:
1. To clarify and improve the working relationships and processes between:

• The LA and GGA as partners
• The LA and individual Governing bodies.
• The LA and Chairs of Governors.

We had a very positive meeting with Jo Grills and her team on 15th Jan. They are clearly working hard to support schools in difficulty, supporting the Ofsted pilot, developing a new data profile, working on new approaches to reducing exclusions and supporting new headship models which are being tried out in a range of schools amongst other things.

2. To work with Governor Services on their Mission and Business Plan in order to support improved services for our members.  There would appear to be little resource available to improve further the training and support available to governors, so we must make the most of what is currently on offer.

3. To ensure Gloucestershire Governors are informed and involved in the forthcoming national consultation on the future role and form of Governing Bodies. We will issue a circular to let you know when the consultation is published – all is quiet at the moment.

Schoolsnet
If you haven’t already done so, take a look at the new GCC website aimed at all those involved with schools. It replaces Educnet, is not password protected (apart from specific documents) and is really good. It incorporates the governor pages also accessible via the main GCC site. It is still under development, but is a great improvement – thanks to the team led by Caroline Anderton who is working on it. Go to www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/schoolsnet.

21st century schools
The DCSF are running a free consultation conference in Bristol on 2nd March. If you want to know more go to www.livegroup.co.uk/childrensplanevents.

NGA Survey
The first NGA Annual Survey of Governors is currently live. In co-operation with The TES the NGA has produced a questionnaire that they hope will sample the views of governor opinion on a range of topics. In some ways this is a follow up to the recent Bath University Research. The survey is anonymous, and takes approximately 5-10 minutes to complete. Governors have until February 19th to take part; the results will be collated and then published on the NGA website and in The TES on February 27th. Please complete the survey as a large response is needed, if NGA are to use the results to influence policy makers
Find the survey here

Current National Consultations:

• Ending Child Poverty
• Home education 
• School Playground design materials
•  2020 CYP workforce strategy
•  21st Century Schools
•  School report cards

Details at www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations.

Not so Special?
And just to be provocative....New research by Professor Alan Smithers suggests that the specialist schools policy – the centrepiece of secondary policy for more than ten years – is based on an illusion. The research findings show that the actual specialism is of little importance; it is the extra funding given to schools that were already performing well that explains the improved examination results, argues Smithers, who is Professor of Education at the University of Buckingham. This follows earlier work which revealed that specialist school head teachers privately admit that the main reason for applying for specialist status was the extra funding that resulted. As one might expect, the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust did not agree with the Professor’s findings!

Useful sources of information and help

• DCSF helpline on www.governorline.info or 08000 722181 and www.governornet.co.uk. I used Governorline myself for the first time recently and found it excellent.
• www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/schoolsnet or ring Gov. Services on 01452 425113 or email governor.services@gloucestershire.gov.uk.
• National Governors Association site on www.nga.org.uk