A Recommended Code of Governance for Schools: - Wellcome Trust

Improving School GovernanceElement AA shared vision and long-term strategic plan for the school,from which annual school development plans can be derived,with the governing body monitoring these plans.Schools need to have a long-term strategy, based on a sharedvision. It is the job of governing bodies, working with theheadteacher and senior leaders, to agree a strategic plan forthe coming three to five years. It is then the job of the seniorleaders to turn the strategic plan into a school developmentplan, updated each year, and to implement this in practice.Strategic planAgreed by governors andsenior leaders.School development planDeveloped by senior leadersbased on the strategic plan.Implementation in practiceDone by senior leaders andstaff.Setting out the vision forthe school and its broadambitions.►With details of how thestrategy will be turned intoreality.►Monitored by governors.Developed in discussion withteachers, parents and learners.The line between governance and managementIt is important that governors understand where the line liesbetween their strategic responsibilities and the managementresponsibilities of the headteacher and senior leaders.Stepping over that line is inappropriate and can make theheadteacher’s job harder.• implementation of delegated financial responsibility,checks and balances• behaviour policy and its implementation• policy for deployment of resources – including buildingsand equipment.More detailed guidance can be found in What governingbodies should expect from school leaders and what school leadersshould expect from governing bodies (see Appendix).Even so, governors need to agree how the school willimplement its strategic plan in practice, and they need tomonitor how it is doing so. Governors may be particularlyinterested in monitoring the following:• recruitment, retention and training of specialist andnon-specialist staff, both teaching and non-teaching• performance management of staffImproving School Governance | 5