This course will investigate the specific and important role of the Safeguarding Governor, to ensure the:

• legal requirements are in place and are known and understood by all staff and adults working in your school
• expectations of OfSTED are being met and that governors can provide evidence of their compliance
• expectations from Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance are fully understood and embedded

This is a certified course to support Governors evidence of KCSIE compliance.

Governors will: 

• have a clear understanding of their role
• have the knowledge and expertise to hold the school to account for ensuring that the policies and processes are in place and that they are being consistently applied
• have a good understanding of what they should monitor and challenge and how that is reported back to the full Governing Board
• be able to report on the staff's understanding of their role in Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance 

All Governors

This course provides an opportunity for Governors to develop a strong focus on their core strategic functions below:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
• Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils
• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent
• Meeting safeguarding responsibilities

Governors will:

• have a clear understanding of the role for which they have volunteered 
• become active participators and effective Governors as quickly as possible 
• understand how to get to know their school and how to challenge
• be confident when dealing with written information
• be able to interrogate data
• be confident in managing their accountability responsibilities
• understand their safeguarding role and responsibilities

New or recently appointed/elected Governors

This course will cover the effective management of the Governing Board’s work, including:

• Establishing professional and supportive senior managers
• Ensuring that all the meetings are run effectively
• Managing meeting and agenda settings
• Ensuring the Governing Board is prepared for an Ofsted inspection
• Developing secure succession planning to ensure business continuity

Chair of Governors will:

• be able to challenge school performance
• be fully involved in school Improvement
• be able to hold strategic and focused meetings
• be able to ensure that the whole Governing Board becomes an effective and strategic group which robustly holds the school to account at all levels
• be able to secure an effective professional relationship with leaders at all levels
• be prepared for an Ofsted inspection

All Chairs, Vice Chairs or Chairs of Committees including Prospective Chairs

The course will support Governors to understand their role in managing all complaints and concerns raised about their school. An effective complaints policy that is understood by the school community will help to ensure that any concerns or issues are dealt with effectively and a quick and positive outcome is secured.

This session will include:

• An overview of policies and guidance
• Application of the policy across the school community
• Mechanisms to ensure all staff understand their role within the policy

Governors will:

• have a good understanding of what a complaint is
• be confident if asked to investigate a complaint on behalf of the governing board
• be confident to serve on a complaints panel
• have a whole school complaints policy which will ensure that all stakeholders are confident that their concerns or complaints will be dealt with sympathetically and fairly
• confidentially manage any complaints against the governing board

Schools will reduce the risk of: 

• concerns converting to complaints
• the need for a panel hearing
• a DFE review

All Governors