The September 2003 issue of Governors, the school governors newsletter from the DfES, is now available in .pdf and hard copy. 

It includes articles on School Funding, Annual Parents' Meetings, the new Primary Strategy, workforce pay, pensions and performance management, the Freedom of Information Act (FoIA), 'Should governors be paid?' and 'Planning Ahead'.  The newsletter also includes a pull-out year planner (this is not included on the .pdf version).  An interactive version of the planner went live on 25 November 2003 - www.governornet.co.uk/yp.

NB. There is an omission on the pull out planner - The GB statutory duty to set pupil performance targets in the Autumn term.  The requirement is contained in the Education (School Performance Targets)(England) Regulations 1998 (SI 1998/1532).  The targets need to be set by December 31st. 

Also: The freedom of information point currently under recommended tasks in the Spring Term should really be under a statutory task in the Autumn term, because each school's own scheme should go to the Information Commissioner by December 31st.  (Even if the standard model is adopted, it would be better to do it in the autumn term so there's no danger of missing the February 2004 deadline).

These will be added/amended on next year's planner and included in the electronic version.

To download a .pdf copy of Governors, please go to the attachment below.  For further information about distribution and registering for a free copy to be delivered directly to your door, see the Background article below titled Governors Newsletter.