The Governing Board has adopted the following principles and procedures:

This code sets out the expectations on and commitment required from school Governors in order for the Governing Board to properly carry out its work within the school and the community.    

As governors, we will focus on the strategic functions

• Ensuring there is clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
• Holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils and the performance management of staff
• Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure the money is well spent

Fulfil our role and responsibility:

• We accept that our role is strategic and so will focus on our core functions rather than involve ourselves in day to day management.
• We will develop, share and live the ethos and values of our school.
• We agree to adhere to school policies and procedures as set out by the relevant governing documents and law.
• We agree to abide by the School’s Guidance for Safer Working Practices and code of conduct.
• We will work collectively for the benefit of the school.
• We will be candid but constructive and respectful when holding senior leaders to account.
• We will consider how our decisions may affect the school and local community.
• We will stand by the decisions that we make as a collective.
• Where decisions and actions conflict with the Seven Principles of Public Life (Appendix 1) or may place
• We  accept  that  we  have  no  legal  authority  to  act  individually,  except  when  the board has given us delegated authority to do so, and we will only speak or act on behalf of the board if we have the authority to do so.
• We  will  fulfil  our  responsibilities  as  a  good  employer,  acting  fairly  and  without prejudice.
• When   making   or   responding   to   complaints   we   will   follow   the   established procedures.
• We will strive to uphold the school’s reputation in our   private communications.  We  will  always  use  social  networking  sites  responsibly  and ensure  that  neither  our  personal/professional  reputation,  nor  the  school’s reputation  is  compromised  by  inappropriate  postings. We will ensure that our actions do not breach any school policies or procedures.
• We  will  promote  tolerance  of  and  respect  for  those  of  different  faiths  and  beliefs, races, genders, ages, disability and sexual orientation.
• We agree to advise the Chair of Governors and Clerk to Governors of any change in  our  personal  circumstances  that  might  call  into  question  our  suitability  to continue as Governors.

Demonstrate Commitment to the Role

• We  will  involve  ourselves  actively  in  the  work  of  the  board,  and  accept  our  fair share of responsibilities, serving on committees or working groups where required.
• We  will  make  every  effort  to  attend  all  meetings  and  where  we  cannot  attend explain in advance why we are unable to.
• We  will  arrive  at  meetings  prepared,  having  read  all  papers  in  advance,  ready  to make a positive contribution and observe protocol.
• We  will  get  to  know  the  school  well  and  respond  to  opportunities  to  involve ourselves in school activities.
• We will visit the school and when doing so will make arrangements with relevant staff / the Headteacher in advance and observe school and board protocol.
• When visiting the school in a personal capacity (i.e.  as a parent or carer), we will continue to honour the commitments made in this code.
• We  will  participate  in  induction  training  and  take  responsibility  for  developing  our individual  and  collective  skills  and  knowledge  on  an  ongoing  basis. We  agree  that  new  Governors  will  attend induction  training  within  the  first  6  month  of  the  commencement  of  their  term  of office.

Build and maintain relationships

• We  will  develop  effective  working  relationships  with  school  leaders,  staff,  parents and other relevant stakeholders from our local community.
• We   will   express   views   openly,   courteously   and   respectfully   in all   our communications   with   board   members   and   staff   both   inside   and   outside   of meetings.
• We will support the chair in their role of leading the board and ensuring appropriate conduct

Respect confidentiality

• We  will  observe  complete  confidentiality  both inside  and  outside  of  school  when matters  are  deemed  confidential  or  where  they  concern  individual  staff,  pupils  or families.
• We will not reveal the details of any governing board vote.
• We will ensure all confidential papers are held and disposed of appropriately.
• We will maintain confidentiality even after we leave office.

Declare conflicts of interest and be transparent

• We will declare any business, personal or other interest that we have in connection with the board’s business and these will be recorded in the Register of Business Interests.
• We  will  also  declare  any  conflict  of  loyalty  at  the  start  of  any  meeting  should  the need arise.
• If a conflicted matter arises in a meeting, we will offer to leave the meeting for the duration of the discussion and any subsequent vote.
• We  accept  that  the  Register  of  Business  Interests  will  be  published  on  the school website.
• We  will  act  in  the  best  interests  of  the  school  as  a  whole  and  not  as  a representative of any group.
• We  accept  that  in  the  interests  of  open  governance,  our  full  names,  date  of appointment,  terms  of  office,  roles  on  the  governing  board,  attendance  records, relevant  business  and  pecuniary  interests,  category  of  governor  and  the  body responsible for appointing us will be published on the school’s website.
• We  accept  that  information  relating  to  board  members  will  be  collected  and recorded  on  the  DfE’s  national  database  of  governors  (Get  information  about schools), some of which will be publicly available. We  understand  that  potential  or  perceived  breaches  of  this  code  will  be  taken  seriously and that a breach could lead to formal sanctions.

If  we  believe  this  code  has  been  breached,  we will  raise  this  issue  with  the  Chair of Governors and   the   chair   will   investigate;   the   Governing   Board   will   only   use suspension/removal as a last resort after seeking to resolve any difficulties or disputes in more constructive ways.

Should it be the Chair of Governors that we believe has breached this code, advice from the Clerk to Governors will be sought and alternative arrangements for investigation made e.g.  another  Governing  Board  member,  such  as  the  Vice  Chair  or  a  Governor  from another school will investigate.

• The Seven Principles of Public Life 

  (Originally published by the Nolan Committee: The Committee on Standards in Public Life was established by the then Prime Minister in October 1994, under the Chairmanship of Lord Nolan, to consider standards of conduct in various areas of public life, and to make recommendations). 

   

  Selflessness - Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.

   

  Integrity - Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

   

  Objectivity - Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.

   

  Accountability - Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.

   

  Openness - Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.

   

  Honesty – Holders of public office should be truthful

   

  Leadership – Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and be willing to challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.