Hampshire Governor - Winter 2002. No. 24

This Edition of Hampshire Governor

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WHY WE NEED TO DEVELOP THE SCHOOL LEADERS OF THE FUTURE

The keystone in all our attempts to raise educational standards is investment in people. That's the message governors' forums across Hampshire have been hearing during the autumn term from John Clarke, deputy county education officer, as he put forward the case for a new Hampshire Teaching and Leadership College.

It won't be a college in the conventional sense - not a building or even an institution - but a network, databases and support for:

• continuing professional development of teachers and others;

• bringing on the leaders of tomorrow;

• ensuring recruitment and retention of quality staff;

• planning for succession.

Governors have reacted with enthusiasm to the concept. The views of governing bodies are now being invited by the County Council. The college will need financial backing from schools if it is to succeed - because it is not part of the `official' role of the LEA as recognised by Government.

John said: `We need more investment in people, because improvements do not happen in education unless people make them happen. Target setting and Ofsted inspections are important but they don't of themselves raise standards.

'Leadership and management in Hampshire schools are better than in like counties and improving more quickly than elsewhere. But provision for developing our leaders is still inadequate and existing initiatives are only touching a minority.

'The job of a headteacher has become more difficult because of a range of issues including increased accountability, child protection, changes in society, challenging child behaviour and personnel problems. To develop the headteachers of the future, we must provide personal and professional support, recognising the emotional as well as intellectual aspects of the job.

'Hampshire with 560 schools, 8,000 teachers and 175,000 pupils is large enough to develop its own educational leaders. The Hampshire Teaching and Leadership College is a vision of how to achieve that. To make it happen will require the ideas of heads and governors and above all the commitment of the educational community.'

THREE OF THE BEST

Three clerks to Hampshire governing bodies have set a standard for others to emulate. They are, from left, Sylvia Vine, Caryll Sayers and Rosemary Armstrong, who completed, with merit, a new accreditation programme for clerks. Report inside.

FOCUS ON THE EDUCATION ACT

Just as it was time to relax at the end of the summer term, the biggest changes in years to the work of governors were hitting the statute book.

The new Education Act passed into law in July 2002. Parts of it are now in force. Other parts will be phased in over the next few years. An implementation timetable is available at http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/(then choose education overview, briefing, education act).

This issue of Hampshire Governor contains a Special Focus on the Act and what it means for governors and schools - see inside.

There are bound to be delays as the programme is rolled out. This is because the Act is primary legislation, leaving many of the details to be finalised. These will emerge in the form of regulations and statutory guidance.

Many of the regulations will be issued after consultation and this is particularly true of those affecting school governance. Currently there is a consultation document out on the proposed changes to the governing body constitutions. Until the regulations come into force, none of the issues out for consultation need to be acted upon by governing bodies.

Once the regulations have been published, Governor Services will present briefings on what actions governing bodies will need to take.

A link has been set up from the Hampshire education website to the DfES school governors' website (under information section) to give easy access to the consultation documents. Responses can be made via the web. Do make your governing body's views known in this way.

BOB WEST

County governor services co-ordinator

CLERKS SET HIGH STANDARDS

Twelve clerks to Hampshire governing bodies have successfully completed a new accreditation programme. They are the vanguard of a much larger number of clerks expected to receive similar recognition for the high standard of work they provide.

The Hampshire Governor Services' clerks accreditation programme is based on original work by two Hampshire governors, Carol Bode and Anthea Del Mar. It covers all the governance, legal, communication, administration and interpersonal aspects of the clerk's role.

It has been developed using workshops of clerks, governors and headteachers, and is moderated at national level by Information for School and College Governors.

Eighteen clerks volunteered in spring 2002 to take part in the pilot programme and the first assessment day was held on 23 September. Not all the clerks had completed their portfolios by this date but 12 gained accreditation, three with merit. Awards will be presented later this term.

Caryll Sayers, one of the successful clerks, commented: `Going through the accreditation process made me realise the range of qualities needed by a clerk and how invaluable the role is to a governing body. It was a really worthwhile exercise and I am delighted to have completed it successfully.'

Rosemary Armstrong, an experienced clerk who also gained accreditation in September, said: `Having been a clerk for some time this scheme made me look again at the role we play and the difference that we can make in helping to ensure the smooth running of the governing body.'

Thirty eight more clerks are currently working on their portfolios, aiming for assessment days in March or September next year.

For further information contact Phil Hand at mailto:phil.hand@hants.gov.ukor call him at 01962 876290.

JANET SHERITON

Head of governor services

HALF A CENTURY TO CELEBRATE

Special presentations took place recently to celebrate and thank two Hampshire governors who between them have dedicated half a century to education.Councillor Elizabeth Cartwright, chairman of governors at Liss Infant School, and Paul Buck, vice-chairman at Amery Hill School, Alton, both celebrated 25 years of service as governors. Hampshire County Council's executive member for education, Councillor Don Allen, and county education officer, Andrew Seber, presented each with a token of appreciation at ceremonies in their schools.Steven Crabtree, headteacher of Amery Hill, said: `Paul has been a member of the Alton community all of his life and has been a tremendous support to our school. We greatly appreciate his knowledge and common-sense approach he brings to issues at the school. Liss Infant headteacher Judith Harmsworth said: `Over the last 25 years Councillor Cartwright has been an active part of the school's governing body. She has been a dedicated governor bringing a great deal to the school, including attending school every Thursday to help children with their reading and writing. She is a very hands-on governor and on behalf of pupils and parents over the many years I would like to thank her for all she has done for the school.'

THE PHANTOM GOVERNORS

Governor Services has been challenged to improve its figures for governors booking and attending courses. Facing a shortfall in the budget for governor training, our service review group discussed ways of reducing expenditure or raising income. Top of the list was closing the gap between those who book training events and the number who turn up on the night.

Five years ago one in 10 of those who booked failed to show; currently the figure is one in four or five. Delegates' packs and refreshments are provided for these phantoms but - worse than that - where events are fully booked but not fully attended, someone else who wanted to come has been needlessly turned away.

When it comes to whole governing body training, the same pattern is repeated. Regularly 25 per cent of governors are missing.

The review group are asking us to improve the figures by March 2003.

JANET SHERITON

Head of governor services

WANTED: APPEAL PANEL MEMBERS

Volunteers, ideally with knowledge of education admissions or exclusions, are needed to join independent appeals panels. The panels are set up by the chief executive's department of the County Council to determine appeals by parents whose children are refused admission to their preferred school; or whose children have been permanently excluded. You will be expected to learn the relevant legislation and to act impartially. Training will be provided.

Contact David Pryke on 01962 847342 or email mailto:david.pryke@hants.gov.uk

Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston has taken a lead in allowing local education authorities to carry out a governor recruitment drive in the workplace. The occasion was a charities fair held in the staff restaurant. Representatives from Hampshire and West Berkshire Governor Services, helped by several employees who were already school governors, managed to attract a number of possible recruits. Among those staging the display were Keith Buckingham, chairman of governors at Tadley Primary School and an AWE employee, and county governor services co-ordinator Hazel Round. Hampshire Governor Services are hoping to persuade other large employers to offer similar facilities.

FRESH LOOK TO EDUCATION WEBSITE

The Education Department website at http://www.hants.gov.uk/education has been restructured and redesigned to give it a fresh new look and make it easier for the user to navigate. Information for governors can be found under the new `governors' tab at the top of the page.

A new Education Intranet has been developed to enable County Council staff, headteachers, teachers, governors and school support staff to access Hampshire-specific information. The intranet site can be accessed from any computer with internet access and can be viewed by simply entering a user name and password. The Education Intranet contains policy documents, curriculum material, advice and contacts. It is still very much in its infancy and we welcome your thoughts and ideas Ð use the feedback button to send an email, or write to us at: The Web Team, Education Department, The Castle, Winchester SO23 8UG.

Contact your school admin officer for the username and password to access the Education Intranet. Click on the `intranet' tab at the top of the education page and enter these logon details.

In the future we hope to be able to provide governors with individual logons and tailored information.

JO BROCKLEBANK

IT project officer

...AND NEW CONTENT FOR GOVERNORS

There are some new additions to the governors' section of the education website.

Go to http://www.hants.gov.uk/education/governors/info.html and choose the `monitoring, supporting and challenging governance' bullet point, to find the processes in place to monitor the quality of governance in Hampshire schools and to support governing bodies in improving practice. These were discussed with County Governors' Forum and the Schools Monitoring Panel in the summer term and endorsed by both.

The document establishes the principles which underpin the Hampshire approach, the links with Ofsted judgments on governance and the school categorisation process and the additional support which may be offered. The criteria link closely to the Governing Body Self Evaluation tool developed by governors in Hampshire a couple of years ago.

Go to http://www.hants.gov.uk/education/governors/GP_introduction.html (or click the last bullet on the governors' homepage) to find documents about governors' working practice. Approximately 30 new schools' documents have recently been added to the site. These examples are offered as starting points for other governing bodies wanting to develop similar working practices.

Go to http://www.hants.gov.uk/education/governorcourses/2002(or find it from the main menu on the Directory homepage under `governor training') for a new booking form for governor courses. This is in addition to the booking facility you use in conjunction with the directory. The new form allows you to book any number of governors on to any number of courses at a time.

Use of the governors' website has tripled since last year. We want your feedback to ensure we are providing the information that you require. Email mailto:claire.e.bailey@hants.gov.uk or call 01962 845846.

ONE-STOP SHOP FOR RECRUITMENT

The School Governors' One-Stop Shop is helping to recruit more governors for Hampshire schools. A limited company with charitable status, the One-Stop Shop is targeting areas identified by Governor Services, using their materials and their contacts.

The One-Stop Shop was initially set up to fill governor vacancies in inner-city areas. Its chief executive, Steve Acklam, recently became a governor of a Hampshire school. As a result of discussions with him and the broadening of the role of the One-Stop Shop to include working in partnership with LEAs outside city areas, a programme of activity in Hampshire has been agreed.

This includes leaflet drops in postcode areas where we have most vacancies, and targeting local employers. There will be no cost to the LEA or to schools.

Candidates will be invited to information evenings and screened by a representative group of governors, heads and elected members. The details of candidates considered suitable will be forwarded to those responsible for filling LEA or co-opted vacancies.

Areas being targeted are Basingstoke, Aldershot, Farnborough, Fareham, Gosport, Havant, Eastleigh, Odiham, Yateley and Andover.

HAZEL ROUND

County governor services co-ordinator

SPECIAL FOCUS ON THE EDUCATION ACT 2002

HAMPSHIRE FIGHTS THREAT TO FUNDING...

Education in Hampshire could be harmed unless the Government can be persuaded to change its mind on a new way of funding schools, which is to be introduced under the Education Act 2002.

The DfES has just completed a consultation exercise on local government finance which will affect the period from April 2003 onwards. Its proposals would redistribute funds away from the South East to other parts of the country.

Hampshire is already among the 40 local authorities receiving the lowest ratio of Government money and the County Council is anxious to prevent it falling further down the table.

The current structure for education funding assessment consists of two blocks: the schools block and the LEA block. The schools block is divided into four sub-blocks covering under-fives, primary, secondary and high-cost SEN pupils.

The formulae for the primary, secondary and under-fives blocks share a similar structure, with a basic pupil entitlement plus top-ups for significant deprivation and for areas where it costs more to recruit and retain teachers.

Four options have been put forward by the DfES which use different measures to assess the funding to be provided for deprivation and recruitment and retention. The best of these options would see an increase in the Hampshire Education budget of £7.6 million; the other three would see a reduction of up to £20.7m.

The County Council does not have a preference for any of the four options as none of them satisfies key principles of fairness and simplicity. It has submitted detailed technical arguments to the DfES to support its case that the calculations should be reworked.

...AND DELAYS IN ADMISSION PROCEDURES

The new Education Act requires local education authorities to agree with other admission authorities a `qualifying scheme' for the co-ordination of admission arrangements.

Further details are contained in a draft revised code of practice on admissions and linked regulations. A qualifying scheme must allow for common dates, common forms, the expression of at least three preferences and, importantly, only one offer of a place. So it will no longer be possible for parents to receive separate offers from community, foundation and aided schools.

It is currently proposed that, for both secondary and primary schools, all decision letters will be sent out on the same date nationwide (secondary 15 March, primary 15 April).

In Hampshire, 94.5 per cent of secondary and 98 per cent of primary first preferences are successful and parents are informed before the end of December (secondary) and January (primary). The March/April proposal would seriously delay this process and make it virtually impossible to complete the appeal programme in time for the new school year. Hampshire has objected vigorously to the setting of a national offer date, suggesting that this should be included within the locally agreed qualifying scheme.

The Act also makes admission forums compulsory. Hampshire's forum, which includes governors, has acted successfully since 1999 so that the new legislation can be easily assimilated.

The DfES documents are available at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations

There will be a full consultation programme with governors on all aspects of the new legislation.

ALEX MUNRO

Education officer, admissions and special projects

NOW YOU CAN CHOOSE A SIZE OFF THE DFES PEG

Is big better? You decide. From September 2003, governing bodies will be able to choose their own size and make-up from a range of options. If nine governors is not enough for your school, or if 20 is too many, you can change the number.

All the options ensure that the stakeholders Ð parents, staff, members of the community, the LEA and for voluntary and foundation schools the foundation body Ð are represented on the governing body. There has to be a balance between the stakeholders but the total number of governors may vary from nine to 20. Among the guiding principles are:

At least a third of places must be taken by parents and no more than a third by staff of the school. One fifth of places should be filled by LEA governors in community schools, up to one fifth in foundation and controlled schools, and up to one tenth in aided schools. Co-opted governors are being replaced by community governors, who should fill at least one fifth of the places in community schools and at least one tenth in foundation and controlled schools.

Governing bodies will be given three years in which to adopt their new constitutional model.

OTHER POINTS

• The Act requires schools to have procedures in place by September 2003 to deal with complaints. (The County Council will send guidance on this to all schools by the end of this term.)

• The Act allows a number of schools to federate under one governing body.

• Schools will be able to share staff and make use of expertise from sectors such as further education.

• Governing bodies will be permitted to run community services such as health services, childcare and adult education.

• More decisions on staffing will be delegated and governors' involvement in dismissals will be limited to hearing any appeal.

• The laws on exclusions will be amended.

• The National Curriculum will be extended to include a new foundation stage for young children.

• A governing body that is part of the problem at a weak or failing school may be replaced by an interim executive board and subsequently by a new governing body.

• Ofsted's remit will be broadened to report on the leadership as well as the management of schools.

• Any school or LEA will be able to apply to the Secretary of State to implement an innovative idea for raising standards, even if this is not allowed under current legislation.

• High-achieving schools will qualify for more autonomy in determining curriculum and teachers' pay.

A NEW SCHOOLS FORUM FOR HAMPSHIRE

Section 43 of the Education Act requires every LEA to establish a schools forum. The forum will be a non-executive body with three main functions:

u to be consulted on the LEA's schools funding formula;

u to be consulted on specified issues in connection with the schools block budget;

u to be consulted on service contracts.

Hampshire County Council is establishing its schools forum this term, to enable it to make recommendations on the schools block budget for 2003/04. The first meeting of the forum is scheduled for late November and will determine its constitution, elect a chairman and agree draft procedures, clerking arrangements and funding.

The proposed membership of the forum will be seven non-school members and 28 headteachers and governors (four from special schools, 14 from primaries and 10 from secondaries).

To ensure the forum does not increase bureaucracy, it will take on the work previously dealt with by other groups to do with LMS, the Standards Fund and budget consultation.

SCHOOLS AS COMPANIES... MORE FREEDOM AT KEY STAGE 4...BENCHMARKS FOR SPENDING

Governing bodies of groups of schools are allowed by the Education Act to form companies to purchase services and goods for their members (purchasing companies) or to provide services to other schools (service delivery companies). The services involved are the provision of school improvement, management and curriculum expertise and experience held at school level.

In addition to company law there will be DfES regulations and a relevant LEA as supervising authority to monitor the financial risks of school companies.

Governing bodies need to consider if membership of such companies offers advantages over existing purchasing arrangements or the services and support provided through management partnership Service Level Agreements and school consortium arrangements.

THOMAS WHIFFEN, Resource allocation manager

Secondary schools are being given more freedom under the Act to vary their learning programmes for 14- to 19-year-olds.

The underlying theme of innovation and partnership in the Act extends to the curriculum, in particular for older students.

For some time now, schools have recognised the importance of maintaining a relevant curriculum for all learners and this has led to, for example, an extensive work-related learning programme in almost all Hampshire schools. This Act now gives schools more freedom to vary learning at Key Stage 4 to cover a wider range of opportunities such as:

learning in a mixture of school, college and workplace settings; modification to the curriculum for an individual pupil when it allows for their talents or specific needs to be better catered for.

This has always been possible to some degree but will now pose a greater challenge for governors in their vigilance over the curriculum and how it is being modified.

Funds are becoming available from agencies including the Learning and Skills Council to promote a flexible curriculum and partnership working with colleges. This presents a second challenge to governors to sustain successful initiatives when `pump priming' funding lapses.

ALAN RAWLINGS Senior inspector/adviser (secondary)

Schools will be able to compare each other's spending performance and patterns. This is thanks to Consistent Financial Reporting (CFR), to be introduced in spring 2003. CFR gives schools the tools to make better use of the resources available to them. The introduction of one financial reporting framework for all schools, providing data for a national benchmarking website, will enable any school to compare its expenditure on any CFR heading with that of a similar school.

Benchmarking will enable schools to identify differences in spending, consider why those differences exist and whether they need to think about making different resource allocation decisions. Thus it will enable governing bodies to compare performance, provide challenge and achieve Best Value more easily.

YOUR CHALLENGE TO PROTECT CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

Your governing body faces the challenge to produce, by April 2003, an accessibility plan ensuring that children with disabilities are not placed at a disadvantage in your school.

The plan should cover not only the provision of education but also admissions and exclusions. So prospective pupils are just as important in this respect as those already in your school. It will be important to enquire, when parents apply for a place, whether the child has any disabilities.

To help you, the Disability Rights Commission has issued a code of practice which is now available in all schools.

Since September 2002, schools and the LEA have been required:

• not to treat disabled pupils less favourably for a reason related to disability, unless the treatment is justified;

• to take reasonable steps to ensure that disabled pupils, or prospective pupils, are not placed at a substantial disadvantage;

• to plan to increase access to school premises and to the curriculum, and to improve the provision of written information in alternative formats.

Your governing body will be expected to report each year to parents on implementation of your accessibility plan. Ofsted will be able to inspect this plan and its implementation.

Help is available now and will continue to be offered. The County Council has sent a self-audit questionnaire to schools which you may find useful. Briefings have been held for governors and staff.

The code of practice, ÔA Guide for Schools' from the Disability Rights Commission and the DfES guidance `Accessible Schools: Planning to increase access to schools for disabled pupils' are other sources.

Helpful websites are http://www.drc-gb.org/, http://www.dfes.gov.uk/sen and http://www.hmso.gov.uk/ (for Government publications) and of course our own Governor Services site, http://www.hants.gov.uk/education/governors here you can find a longer version of this article including questions which governors can ask.

The County Council is currently working on its own accessibility plan and will be issuing further guidance and a template to help schools with their plans at the end of this term or early next term.

ERIC SMITH

Education officer SEN

WIDER OPPORTUNITIES IN MUSIC

One of the Government's commitments is to give more children the chance to learn to play a musical instrument.

Members of a DfES working group have visited Hampshire, to learn more of our approach to instrumental and vocal work in schools. There is a special emphasis on Key Stages 1 and 2. The current plan is for the DfES to work closely with LEA music services in developing and trialling a range of approaches at the primary phase.

Through Hampshire's Primary Music Curriculum Project, every primary school is able to receive support to develop its music provision for pupils. This gives us a very strong basis for moving forward.

Alongside this, Hampshire Music Service teachers give group tuition in schools to about 15,000 pupils. Many children also play or sing in school and area music ensembles. We have been working with schools to broaden the range of tuition available and have invested in new instruments including the less common, more expensive, ones. HMS vocal co-ordinators are supporting singing in schools and many successful vocal festivals have raised the profile of singing.

More information on Hampshire Music Service at www.hants.gov.uk/education/hms/

RICHARD HOWLETT

Head of Hampshire Music Service

GCSE RESULTS ARE THE BEST YET

Hampshire pupils have recorded their best GCSE exam results ever, as well as continuing to exceed national standards.

Fifty-seven per cent of 16-year-olds achieved five or more A*-C grades in 2002, a 1 per cent increase on 2001.

The County Council's executive member for education, Councillor Don Allen, said: `The hard work and commitment given by pupils and teachers has been reflected once again in this year's results. Everyone involved with these young people's education can feel justly proud of the part they have played in this success story.

'On behalf of Hampshire County Council I am very pleased to congratulate pupils and teachers as well as wishing pupils the very best for their future.'

County education officer Andrew Seber said: `The results show our high standards continue to be maintained in our schools. We aim to ensure all young people are given the opportunity to work to the best of their ability and this year's results again recognise this.

I wish all 16 year olds in Hampshire every success with their next step into further education or employment.

The text of Hampshire Governor can be made available in larger size on request to Governor Services, tel 01962 845846.

Hampshire Governor, Hampshire Governor Services, Hampshire County Council Education, The Castle, Winchester SO23 8UG. Tel 01962 845846.

Prepared and published by

Hampshire County Council

Education Department.

Edited and produced by Bob Poulton, WordWright, Fareham.

Mailed to governors in Hampshire LEA.

Views expressed do not necessarily coincide with those of the LEA. Publication of Hampshire Governor is helped by a government grant specifically directed at the training and information needs of school governors.