Code of Conduct for Albrighton Primary School Governing Board

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'Only Our Best Will Do!'

This is our Mantra for all aspects of school Life and we, the School Board of Governors, have a duty to ensure that this is also our motto.

 

As governors / trustees, we will focus on our strategic functions:

  1. ensuring there is clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
  2. holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils and the performance management of staff
  3. overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent, ensuring financial probity by setting the budget, monitoring expenditure against the budget, ensuring value for money is obtained and ensuring risks to the organisation are managed
  4. ensuring the voices of stakeholders are heard
  5. appointing the Headteacher

  

As individuals on the board we agree to:

Fulfil our role & responsibilities

  1. We accept that our role is strategic and so will focus on our core functions rather than involve ourselves in day to day management.
  2. We will develop, share and live the ethos and values of our school/s.
  3. We agree to adhere to school/trust policies and procedures as set out by the relevant governing documents and law.
  4. We will work collectively for the benefit of the school/s.
  5. We will be candid but constructive and respectful when holding senior leaders to account.
  6. We will consider how our decisions may affect the school/s and local community.
  7. We will stand by the decisions that we make as a collective.
  8. Where decisions and actions conflict with the Seven Principles of Public Life1 or may place pupils at risk, we will speak up and bring this to the attention of the relevant authorities.
  9. We will only speak or act on behalf of the board if we have the authority to do so.
  10. We will fulfil our responsibilities as a good employer, acting fairly and without prejudice.
  11. When making or responding to complaints we will follow the established procedures.
  12. We will strive to uphold the school’s / trust’s reputation in our private communications (including on social media).
  13. We will actively support and challenge the Headteacher

 

Demonstrate our commitment to the role

  1. 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.
  2. We will make every effort to attend all meetings and where we cannot attend explain in advance why we are unable to.
  3. We will arrive at meetings prepared, having read all papers in advance, and ready to make a positive contribution and observe protocol.
  4. We will get to know the school/s well and respond to opportunities to involve ourselves in school activities.
  5. We will visit the school/s and when doing so will make arrangements with relevant staff in advance and observe school and board protocol.
  6. 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.
  7. We will participate in induction training and take responsibility for developing our individual and collective skills and knowledge on an ongoing basis.

 

Build and maintain relationships

  1. We will work as a team developing effective working relationships with school leaders, staff, parents and other relevant stakeholders from our local community/ communities.
  2. We will express views openly, courteously and respectfully in all our communications with board members and staff both inside and outside of meetings.
  3. We will support the chair in their role of leading the board and ensuring appropriate conduct.
  4. We are prepared to answer queries in the interests of open government and as such our names, terms of office, roles on the Governing Body, category of governor, attendance at meetings and the body responsible for appointing us will be published on the school’s website

 

Respect confidentiality

  1. 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.
  2. We will not reveal the details of any governing board vote.
  3. We will ensure all confidential papers are held and disposed of appropriately.
  4. We will maintain confidentiality even after we leave office.

 

Declare conflicts of interest and be transparent

  1. 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.
  2. We will also declare any conflict of loyalty at the start of any meeting should the need arise.
  3. 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.
  4. We accept that the Register of Business Interests will be published on the school/trust’s website.
  5. We will act in the best interests of the school/trust as a whole and not as a representative of any group.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.

 

 

Breach of the Code of Conduct

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 who will investigate.  The Governing Body will only use suspension/removal from office as a last resort after seeking to resolve any difficulties or disputes in more constructive ways.  The Vice Chair, or another governor from the Complaints Committee will carry out the investigation and provide a resolution if the chair is believed to have breached the code of conduct.