The Collaborative runs two successful training programmes for Governors commissioned from RMA Governance.
RMA Governance’s Director, Ruth Agnew http://www.rmagovernance.com/about-ruth-agnew/ , oversees and quality assures all the work undertaken by the organisation. Ruth is an experienced governor and chair in both primary and secondary sectors, a National Leader of Governance and a former Local Authority Governor Services Manager.
All programmes are delivered at Park Brow Primary School which has become the Collaborative hub for Governor training.
Governor Accreditation Programme (GAP) – A competency framework for school governors led by Andy Kent http://www.rmagovernance.com/andy-kent-associate/
In 2015-16 Ruth Agnew led the Governors’ Accreditation programme in the Kirkby Collaborative of Schools. Over 20 delegates from across the family of schools attended each session in the programme. The programme was so well received that we are running it again in 2016-17. Governors who attended last year found that working together on common issues was really informative and also enabled them to share practice and learn from one another. The programme also includes comprehensive self assessment workbooks for delegates and the chance to have your work externally assessed if you so wish.
GAP is an innovative, holistic approach to governor development. Governors are constantly told they need to challenge headteachers and senior leaders. They are urged to be rigorous, robust and relentless, but don’t always understand how to do this. Similarly, governors on the whole understand that they need to be strategic, but do not always know what this means in practice. This can have a negative effect on relationships between governors and school leaders and on school improvement.
The Governor Accreditation Programme has been designed to address this. It is a programme that defines and develops the competences that are expected of school governors. School leaders and chairs of governors can be confident that colleagues who undertake the GAP programme will become confident rounded governors with the skills and knowledge to discharge their roles well.
The Governor Accreditation Programme (GAP) consists of eight GAP modules. The eight modules link to the 20 GAP competencies. GAP defines 20 competencies that are applicable to all school governance situations and school phases. These competencies cover Ethos and Strategic Direction; Education Performance; Use of Resources.
Each competency is defined at three progressively more advanced levels: New Governor; Accredited Governor; Lead Governor
Governors follow the programme using self assessment booklets.
For greater detail regarding the content of the GAP programme see:
Sharing Good Practice Sessions – led by Ruth Agnew
The Collaborative is running five sharing good practice sessions with Ruth Agnew on specific areas. The aim of these sessions is for Ruth to outline some national thinking and good practice – but then for schools in the Collaborative to actively share their approaches to the topic focus so we can reflect, develop and learn from each other. Sessions include:
- governing body structure, terms of reference, agenda setting
- minutes: structure, content, sharing protocols, timescales etc
- link governors and governor visits – and their role in governor monitoring
- the headteacher’s report and other information received from school leaders
- fulfilling accountability to parents, pupils and staff
For further information on Governor Support and training see: http://www.rmagovernance.com/ or contact Ruth Agnew on 01925 818846 or 07974621553 or via email at support@rmagovernance.com
