Financial skills central to school governor reforms

13 Jan 14
People will only be able to be appointed as school governors if they have appropriate abilities and experience, such as financial skills, under proposed amendments to the school governance constitution

By Vivienne Russell | 13 January 2014

People will only be able to be appointed as school governors if they have appropriate abilities and experience, such as financial skills, under proposed amendments to the school governance constitution.

The Department for Education wants to usher in a more professional standard of school governance in England and said it expected governing bodies to start acting like corporate boards.

Education minister Lord Nash said: ‘The best businesses have a skilful board of directors keeping tem on the right path. I want to see the same approach in schools. 

‘Our proposals will ensure governing in local authority-run have the people they need to drive up standards.’

The DfE’s consultation document stated that regulations will be changed so that any newly appointed governor has, in the opinion of the person making the appointment, the skills required to contribute to the effective governance of the school.

‘This could include specific skills such as an ability to understand data or finances as well as general capabilities such as the capacity and willingness to learn,’ it says.

The National Governors’ Association backed the move, saying organisations with good governance do not fail.

‘This starts with the recruitment of a good group of diverse people with the time, the necessary range of skills and experience and the commitment to improving the education of children and young people,’ said NGA chief executive Emma Knights.

According to DfE advice, school governing bodies should focus on three core functions: ensuring financial resources are well spent; setting the vision and strategic direction for the school; and holding the head teacher to account.

The consultation on the changes closes on March 14.

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