A Recommended Code of Governance for Schools: - Wellcome Trust

Improving School GovernanceAppendix: How this pilot version of theRecommended Code was developedThis pilot version arises from two workshops held at theWellcome Trust in March and June 2012, attended bygovernors, headteachers, and representatives of theDepartment for Education, Ofsted, the National GovernorsAssociation, the National College for School Leadership,School Governors’ One-Stop Shop and other stakeholders.The idea of a Recommended Code of Governance is based onthe UK Corporate Governance Code and on practice incharitable foundations, where the Statement ofRecommended Practice provides a framework for annualreporting that is sufficiently flexible to accommodate diverseorganisations.This Recommended Code draws on the following sources.The UK Corporate Governance Code (Financial ReportingCouncil, June 2010). It provides a recommended governancecode for FTSE 350 companies. www.frc.org.uk/Our-Work/Codes-Standards/Corporate-governance.aspxTwenty key questions for a school governing body to ask itself(All-Party Parliamentary Group on School Governance andLeadership, May 2012). www.nga.org.uk/Resources/Useful-Documents/Twenty-Key-Questions.aspxWhat governing bodies should expect from school leaders andwhat school leaders should expect from governing bodies(Association of School and College Leaders, NationalGovernors’ Association, National Association ofHeadteachers). www.nga.org.uk/About-Us/Be-a-Governor/Information-for-governors.aspxCode of Practice for Academy School Governors (NationalGovernors’ Association, 2011). www.nga.org.uk/Resources/Useful-Documents/Code-of-Practice.aspxStatements of Intended Impact (Teach First, 2012).Good governance: Proposals from the 2012 FellowshipCommission (National College for School Leadership).This draft was prepared by a small working partycomprising: Paul Charman, Chair, Dyson Perrins School andRM; Helen Drake, Governor, Martin Primary School; MartinPost, Head, Watford Grammar School for Boys; EmlynSamuel, Wellcome Trust; John Holman, Wellcome Trust. Ithas been revised following review by the National Governors’Association, the National College for School Leadership andseveral National Leaders of Governance.10 | Improving School Governance