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| Undercover Inspector .
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 Posted: Mon Aug 31 2009 08:57 AM - Post subject:
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| David Smith
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Posted: Mon Aug 31 2009 09:59 AM - Reply subject: Obvious
Unfortunately I'm going to vote for your "obvious answer".
With the existing system, what other practical means of assessing effectiveness is there than that the rest of the GB are happy to re-elect?
You could force every CoG to stand down after x terms in office - but that would mean some very effective CoGs having to stand down.
You could introduce some sort of test - but what would you do if nobody on the GB could pass it?
You could have CoGs planted into GBs from some central pool - but you wouldn't necessarily be improving upon what the GB could do itself.
In my opinion, we have groups of volunteers, who know what job they need to do collectively, have reasonable insight into each others' characters, and have a chance every year to decide collectively who is best able to facilitate their meetings, etc. I honestly think that should work.
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| New Gov
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Posted: Thu Sep 10 2009 12:59 PM - Reply subject: I agree with your concern
I think our GB is in exactly the same position. The chair - who is thoroughly in the head's pocket - is re-elected year after year without opposition. The predominant ethos of the GB seems to be 'be polite and nice to each other and no one rock the boat'. As a result, we have a situation where the head simply tells us what he's doing or intends to do, and the GB sits there and nods approvingly.
So I guess what I am saying is that it's the 'mindset' of the GB as a whole that allows the constant re-election of ineffective chairs.
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| Ulotar Soslo
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Posted: Thu Sep 10 2009 01:08 PM - Reply subject: r
Rather than require the rest of the good GBs to change, why not get the governors at schools with docile GBs to do their job properly.
If your GB re-elects a tame chair every year, then that is a problem that needs to be resolved within your GB, not by changing what happens in my school.
Stand against them if they are rubbish
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| Three Wise Monkeys
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Posted: Thu Sep 10 2009 05:10 PM - Reply subject: Shelf Life
New Gov - What you describe is the GB at my school. I tried to stand against it but there is only so much one person can do. The GB was a private members club, that was totally ineffective and did whatever the HT 'suggested'.
My name is in honour of our GB, see no evil, hear no evil, do no evil. It's idea of evil was anything that the HT didn't want to hear,say or do.
I think the very nature of a GB can encourage that to happen and when it does, it is impossible to break down. They don't want there cosy relationship with the HT jepodised
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| JfB .
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Posted: Fri Sep 11 2009 08:18 AM - Reply subject: Timid GBs
Sadly LB / TWM I think you are correct & suspect it is the postion of many GBs.
They are made up of voluntary people many of whom, with the best will in the world, are there to make up the numbers. Many feel 'they are not the experts' so will bow to the head who is 'the expert'.
Will the new Ofsted framework give an opportunity for GBs to be really checked? What about outstanding schools? Will Ofsted bother, or have the time, with GBs if the school is doing well or just assume the GB is fine?
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| New Gov
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Posted: Fri Sep 11 2009 02:47 PM - Reply subject: In the same boat
TWM - Yes, I think we are in the same boat. I have no idea if any of the other governors feel the same way I do, but I get the strong feeling that it would be absolutely pointless trying to oppose this, especially as the school was recently rated outstanding.
But from my point of view, being on the GB seems completely pointless. We don't do anything. We don't discuss or formulate or do anything in our terms of reference. We simply listen. And nod approvingly. It all seems like a monumental waste of time. We have about as much influence over what actually happens in the school as the Queen does over parliament. Or maybe the House of Lords would be a better example! I am getting so cheesed off with the general air of passivity and sycophancy I am seriously considering resigning.
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| David Smith
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Posted: Fri Sep 11 2009 04:04 PM - Reply subject: :-(
I hope our GB doesn't feel like you do.
As a chair, I try really hard to allow everybody to have their say and keep us all involved in the governance of the school.
Actually, the HT (and other staff governors) often are experts in the things we discuss. That doesn't mean that no other opinions are valuable.
There's really no such thing as a daft question and, I hope, anyone on our GB knows they can ask what they like.
Sure, there are things we could do better - again any suggestion is always taken seriously.
Our HT happily admits that he doesn't always get his own way. To be fair to him, I rarely notice him trying to get it.
Lastly, I would hate to think that anyone on the GB felt it would be a waste of time standing for any position on the GB. I try to be scrupulously fair and honest, and am always happy to let a more willing person take over.
Sorry, that's a bit of a random download of thoughts on this subject. I thought the tone was getting a bit depressing and wanted to reassure anyone reading that not all GBs are sycophantic rubber stamping machines.
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| JfB .
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Posted: Fri Sep 11 2009 04:14 PM - Reply subject: Action plan!
{Sorry, that's a bit of a random download of thoughts on this subject. I thought the tone was getting a bit depressing and wanted to reassure anyone reading that not all GBs are sycophantic rubber stamping machines. }
I think there are lots of us who feel quite dispirited & want something different SO as it's a new school year - what tips can we have on getting more action into our GBs?
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| David Smith
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Posted: Fri Sep 11 2009 04:33 PM - Reply subject: Ofsted
Actually, we had an Ofsted recently and they did indeed look at the effectiveness of the GB. I personally found their comments very useful and we'll be using them to inform our priorities for the year.
Do all GBs have priorities for the year?
That might be a useful starting point for any governor feeling part of an ineffective GB.
Every September we agree a focus for our work for the coming year. They aren't the same as the school's priorities - although there is usually some sort of synergy. They're usually three or four key things that we want to focus on, and are always prominently displayed on every agenda.
For example, if you have a new HT, the GBs priorities might include supporting the HT, which obviously wouldn't be a priority for the school per se. With a more established HT, the priority might have evolved into a more "critical friend" role - a similar idea, with a different emphasis, and again not one you'd see in a school improvement plan.
It seems to me perfectly reasonable for any governor in any GB to ask "what are we as governors going to focus on this year?" That can easily lead to a fruitful discussion.
If you can agree on some priorities, and make sure you don't lose sight of them, at least you're all pulling in the same direction.
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| JfB .
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Posted: Sat Sep 12 2009 09:30 AM - Reply subject: Action plan
Thanks David! I likwe that idea!
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