Governing bodies are required by law to carry out certain functions and can delegate many of these to committees. Governing bodies as a whole still remain accountable overall for any decisions taken and the committees have to follow certain procedures to make sure that they carry out their work legally and properly. A governing body can also set up sub-groups, rather than formal committees, to act as working parties to carry out some aspects of its work. These groups are not entitled to take decisions on behalf of all the governors like committees can, but will report back to the full governing body and advise it.
Governing Body Meetings
The full governing body must hold at least three meetings each school year. Any three governors may request an extra meeting in writing to the clerk which must then take place. The agenda, minutes, papers, etc. must be held in school and made available for inspection on request (except for minutes of confidential items). Meetings are not open to the public but the governing body may decide to invite 'observers' on a one-off or regular basis. Headteachers may elect to be a (voting) member of the governing body - if not, they still have the right to attend all meetings. A governor can be removed from office if he/she fails to attend for 6 months without the consent of the governing body.
Decisions cannot be taken unless a minimum (quorum) of governors is present. The full governing body need not take every decision - they may delegate some of their functions and powers to the head, an individual or to a committee. When an urgent decision needs to be taken and there is no time to call a meeting the chair has the power to take decisions on behalf of the governing body.
The agenda of a full governing body meeting in Hounslow may include:
Headteacher's Report - this brings the governors up-to-date with what has happened in the school since they last met and issues that need discussion or decision.
Report of Hounslow Council's Corporate Director of Lifelong Learning,Cultural and Leisure Services - this may contain items of, at least, borough-wide importance for consultation or decision.
Reports from Committees - governing body committees that have met since the last full meeting will normally provide a report that updates all the governors on the business of each committee.
Reports from special interest governors (see below)
Governing Body Roles
The only statutory roles are the officers of the governing body - the Chair, Vice-Chair and Clerk.
The Chair and Vice Chair must be elected at the first meeting of the academic year - anyone employed at the school cannot be elected as Chair or Vice Chair. The Chair or Vice-chair has the power to act on behalf of the governing body on most occasions if a delay in exercising a function is likely to be seriously detrimental to the interests of the school, its pupils or their parents, or a member of staff.
The Clerk's main responsibilities are to convene and attend governing body meetings, take minutes (formal notes), and maintain a register of members, making sure than any vacancies are notified to the governing body. The clerk may also be able to offer information and advice, particularly on legal matters and procedures for meetings.
The governing body might decide that there are other roles that members should undertake in carrying out its function. Although these extra roles are not required by law, Hounslow recommends that governing bodies should consider allocating these where possible as many governing bodies have found them beneficial to their work.
For example, most Hounslow governing bodies have a governor who acts as a link between the school and the Governor Support and Development Section at the Civic Centre. Other governors may take a special interest in a specific subject or aspect such as Numeracy, Literacy, Special Educational Needs, Equal Opportunities, etc.