Annual cycle of work for Governing Bodies
It is a good idea for all governing bodies to have an annual
cycle of work identifying the key tasks which must be done each
term. These termly routines will contribute significantly to the
effectiveness of governors. The annual cycle of work should be
agreed at the first governing body meeting in the Autumn Term.
Take a look at a model annual
cycle of work (called "year
planner").
The year planner offers an extensive range of tasks for
governing bodies to consider under fours tabs: General, Autumn
Term, Spring Term, and Summer Term. Governing bodies may wish to
select appropriate tasks for the next 12 months rather than attempt
to tackle them all every year.
In setting an annual cycle of work governors should bear in
mind:
- Governing body agendas will contain many items which need to be
addressed each term in addition to those in the annual cycle of
work, so chairs of governors need to plan the governing body's time
accordingly.
- Governors are encouraged to delegate to committees so that
essential tasks can be managed efficiently.
- All the governing body's policies need to be reviewed on a
regular cycle, and these should be noted in the annual cycle of
work.
- Governing bodies have a legal duty to have regard to the
work/life balance of the head teacher.
Committees
All Committees of the governing body must have formal terms of
reference. An overview of committees of the governing body is
available on
GovernorNet.
Finance
The governing body has overall responsibility for finance in
schools and for setting the budget, but governors are not expected
to be financial experts and it is not their responsibility to agree
every individual item of expenditure. The head teacher manages the
school finances, within the budget set by the governing body.
Although the details of school finance can be complex, in
principle schools they receive the vast majority of their income
from Tower Hamlets council under the system known as "Fair
Funding". Schools can also raise additional money from parents and
from letting premises, and foundation schools may receive some
further funding from their foundation. The money received by
schools is intended to cover all their running costs, but major
capital expenditure such as new buildings or extensions is dealt
with separately.
The governing body decides how all the money it receives will be
spent, working with the head teacher and the school's senior staff.
School staff will draw up the draft budget for review by the
Governors Finance Committee and for approval by the governing body.
The school keeps detailed financial records of income and
expenditure in a standard national format called "Consistent
Financial Reporting" [CFR].
Governors normally have a finance committee which oversees the
school's finances and budget. The governing body is not a financial
auditor. Professional auditing of the finances of Tower Hamlets
schools is done by the internal audit team of Tower Hamlets
council, and their audit reports are given to the school and the
governing body.
In their financial planning governing bodies need to take a
longer term view of the school's likely income and expenditure over
the next three years. Governors should also follow
"Best Value" principles.
In 2007 the government introduced a new financial standard
called "Financial Management Standard in
Schools" [FMSiS]. All Tower Schools are expected to meet this
standard by 2010.
For further information contact:
Governor services
Mulberry Place
5 Clove Crescent
London, E14 2BG
Tel: 020 7364 5000
Email: governors@towerhamlets.gov.uk