Friern Barnet School Staff Governor Relations Policy

Staff/Governor Relations PolicyRationale for Governor Visits to the SchoolVisits to the school during the day can give Governors an important insight into the life of the school andform a part of the Governors’ wider role. If Governors are to carry out their role effectively they need tohave a feel for the atmosphere and ethos and a real understanding of the way the school works. The mainreasons for governors’ visits are:• to learn about the school• to enable the Governing Body to fulfil its accountability role• to show those employed in the school that the work they carry out is valued• to support the school, staff and students, as a critical friend.The Headteacher and staff will actively support extending Governors’ knowledge and understanding ofeducation in line with their increased responsibilities through:• Welcoming them into the school.• Reporting on school development work.• Encouraging Governors’ involvement in professional development and school development throughtraining, visits to other schools, INSET and their involvement in appropriate staff meetings.• Encouraging them to lead Key Stage Assemblies each year to raise their profile with the students• Encouraging them to attend the six Strategic Planning Meetings with the SLT throughout theacademic year.• Encouraging them to support the varied activities that take place in the wider life of the schoolincluding performances, parents’ evenings, raising achievement events, prize giving assemblies andevenings and fund raising events throughout the year.With the help and support of the Governors the school will be able to:• Identify strengths and plan strategies to not just maintain but build on these.• Identify area for school improvement, prioritise these and build them into the School Improvement PPlan within timescales and budgetary constraints.General Protocol for Link GovernorsGovernors may visit the school for a variety of purposes and on each occasion this visit should be recordedon a Governor report form. A Governor is linked to each area of the curriculum (see appendix 1). It is theresponsibility of the Governor to liaise with the Head of Faculty (or area) to arrange visits and a clear focusshould be decided well in advance. The school has a clear protocol in place for Governor visits. (Seeappendix 2).Consultation with the Head of Faculty/Department• The focus of the visit will be discussed with the Head of Faculty/Department as to itsappropriateness.• A mutually convenient time for the visit will be established with the link Governor and theappropriate member(s) of staff and a record of this will be documented in a Governors’ folder kept inthe main school office. (See appendix 3 and 4).1. The visit• Governors should make observations during their visit but it is acknowledged that no professionalteaching judgements should be made.• The focus of the visit should be central to the observation or the dialogue.