Governing Body
Two Committee Structure
1
Strategic Governance
Strategic governance, now more than ever, requires Governors who demonstrate shared
responsibility for challenge and support for the school leadership team who also recognise that
they themselves are part of that leadership team. Governance and leadership needs to blend
into a powerful force for school improvement and high pupil outcomes.
It is recognised Governing Bodies are made up of a collection of individuals who bring different
skills and expertise to their governance but with a common motivation to be involved.
It is essential that all governing bodies find ways to build on that motivation and create a force of
people who are passionate about teaching and learning, knowledgeable about schools and
national standards and dedicated to raising the educational achievement of children and young
people.
Successful governance requires a balanced mix of skills, knowledge and experience that is
directed effectively to ensure the work of the governing body is equally shared by all governors.
To ensure individual governors are empowered to actively participate in the work they must
have up to date knowledge, the right skills and remain motivated to gain the experience that can
only be gained with the passage of time.
For a governing body to discharge its responsibility to provide critical friendship to the school, it must
be very precise about the areas it chooses for its focus. By removing involvement in operational
matters from agendas a governing body may be in a position to have just three meetings a year.
Two Committee Structure
For governors to meet the strategic demands of modern governance they must apportion their time
and energy effectively. With some careful planning governors can take the opportunity to
reinvigorate themselves and their working relationship with the managers in the school and even
reduce the number of meetings they ask their head to attend.
In primary schools a high number of schools have streamlined their governance and moved to a
structure involving the full governing body, two committees and a strategic leadership group.
This is a diagrammatic representation of the structure:
Governing Body
Strategic Leadership Group
Stratgegic Teaching &
Learning Commiittee
Strategic Organistaion
Resource Committee
Two Committees
A committee structure based on just two committees can provide a governing body with the vehicles
to drive strategic governance. The names of the committees can be agreed by the governors but if a
governing body delegates functions to a committee then it must follow the procedures set out in the
GLSG. GLSG Chapter 4 Paras 64-67
A suggestion is that one committee is called the Teaching and Learning Committee and the other
is called the Strategic Organisation Resource Committee. They could meet three times each
year in the terms between governing body meetings.
The Teaching and Learning committee will take on several evaluative functions including: the
effectiveness of the curriculum; the impact of teachers on pupil’s outcomes and the data available to
show pupil progress and the impact of the school’s improvement measures.
The Strategic Organisation Resource Committee could evaluate: the effective deployment of the
school budget to ensure the school can afford the staffing structure it has chosen; the steps the
school takes to ensure quality and safety of the teaching and learning environment; how the school
operates local authority financial regulations; the promotion of community cohesion and extended
services and professional development and performance management of everyone in the school.
These are weighty strategic matters and in every case governors must be sure to avoid becoming
involved in operational matters. The best support they can give is by establishing targets and
questioning outcomes.
The full GB will decide which committees or GB member will review and approve the DFE Statutory
Policies. There are a number of policies which need to be ratified by the whole of the Governing
Body.
Strategic Leadership Group
The strategic leadership group exists to drive the work of the two committees and as a consequence
the strategic direction of the school and governing body. The membership of this group is the head,
the chair and vice chair of governors and the chairs of the two committees. In addition other
members of the school senior leadership team may join this group for specific items or discussions.
It is important to remember that this is a group not a committee. It will have no power to act on
behalf of the governing body as a committee with delegated powers would. The purpose of this
group is through discussion with the managers of the school, to identify what is operational
management and what is strategic governance and from there to agree the work of the two
committees. This will give the chairs of the two committees clear guidance on what their committees
are expected to achieve.
The strategic leadership group may identify specific pieces of evaluative work that it wants governors
to undertake and ask the two committees to nominate governors to undertake these tasks. They will
not form a committee but they will report back to the governing body the results of their work. These
are task and finish groups with specific remits using the skills of individual governors. This can be
an effective way to empower governors and enhance the sense they get of making a contribution to
strategic governance.
The Role of the Chair of the Governing Body
 To ensure the business of the Governing Body is conducted properly, in accordance with
legal and MOD/SCE delegation requirements.
 To ensure meetings are run effectively, focusing on priorities and making the best use of
time available, and to ensure that all members have an equal opportunity to participate
in discussion and decision-making
 To establish and foster an effective relationship with the Headteacher based on trust and
mutual respect for each other’s roles. The Chair has an important role in ensuring that
the Governing Body acts as a sounding board to the Headteacher and provides strategic
direction
Disqualification – the Headteacher, Staff Governors, Pupils and anybody employed at the
school.
The Role of the Clerk to the Governing Body
 To work effectively with the Chair of Governors, the other Governors and the
Headteacher to support the Governing Body
 To advise the Governing Body on Constitutional and Procedural Matters, duties and
powers
 To convene meetings of the Governing Body
 To attend meetings of the Governing Body and ensure minutes are taken
 To maintain a register of members of the Governing Body and report vacancies to the
Governing Body
 To give and receive notices in accordance with relevant regulations
 To perform such other functions as may be determined by the Governing Body from time
to time
Disqualification – Governors, Associate Members, the Headteacher
The Role of the Chair of a Committee
 To ensure the business of the Committee is conducted properly, in accordance with
legal requirements
 To ensure meetings are run effectively, focusing on priorities and making the best use of
time available, and to ensure that all members have an equal opportunity to participate
in discussion and decision-making
Disqualification – the Headteacher, Staff Governors, Pupils and anybody employed at the
school.
The Governing Body
The Governing Body needs to take a strategic role, act as a critical friend to the School and be
accountable for its decisions. It should set aims and objectives and agree, monitor and review
policies, targets and priorities.
Model Terms of reference:
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To agree constitutional matters*, including procedures where the Governing
Body has discretion
To recruit new members as vacancies arise and to appoint new governors*
where appropriate
To hold at least three Governing Body meetings a year*
To appoint or remove the Chair and Vice Chair*
To appoint or remove a Clerk to the Governing Body*
To establish the committees of the Governing Body and their terms of reference*
To appoint the Chair of any committee (if not delegated to the committee itself)
To assign governors to the Standards Teaching and Learning, and the
Resources committees as appropriate
To suspend a governor*
To decide which functions of the Governing Body will be delegated to
committees, groups and individuals*
To establish and keep under review arrangements for Governors’ visits to school
To receive reports from any individual or committee to whom a decision has been
delegated and to consider whether any further action by the Governing Body is
necessary*
To approve the first formal budget plan of the financial year
To keep the Health and Safety Policy and its practice under review and to make
revisions where appropriate
To review the delegation arrangements annually
Any items which individual governing bodies may wish to include
*these matters cannot be delegated to either a committee or an individual
Membership – As per the Instrument of Government
Disqualification – as per Regulation 20 and Schedule 6 of the Constitution Regulations
Quorum:
One half of the number of Governors in post
Strategic Leadership Group
Aim: To work closely with the senior managers of the school to develop strategy leading
to school improvement.
The suggested membership of this group is the Chair of Governors, the Headteacher and the Chair
of each of the two Committees. These key governors would have a more strategic and coordinating role and can add greatly to the effectiveness of the work of the Governing Body as a
whole.
It is intended that the group can more effectively determine:
 Management or operational issues that will inform the work of the school’s Senior
Leadership Team
 Strategic issues that will inform the work/agendas of the two committees and ultimately the
full governing body.
The terms of reference give an indication of this broader perspective.
If the Governing Body decides not to have this group it is suggested that these terms of
reference are of such importance they should be transferred to the Governing Body.
Model Terms of reference:
The group will meet frequently at the school with the Headteacher and members of the senior
leadership team:
 To agree, by early in the autumn term, the programme of work and to propose a
calendar of meetings for the Governing Body and its committees for the school year,
based on known cycles of school improvement, financial management, staffing
issues and communicating with parents
 To oversee arrangements for Governor involvement in formulating and monitoring
the School Development Plan
 To agree the involvement of the Governing Body when considering the policy review
schedule
 To make recommendations to the Governing Body to establish exceptional working
arrangements (“Working Parties”) where particular circumstances arise e.g. a
working party to oversee a building project
 To be available and respond to matters of particular difficulty, sensitivity or
emergency and offer advice to the Headteacher
 To carry out an annual review of the structure of the Governing Body and make
recommendations for any changes considering any recommendations made by
committees with regard to the working of the Governing Body
 To monitor the progress of work being undertaken by committees and individuals,
undertaking an annual governor capacity and skills audit.
 To identify individual governor and full governing body development needs and
promote appropriate training, support and development to maximise governing body
effectiveness and succession planning
 To undertake tasks delegated to them by the Governing Body
Quorum – Whilst this is not a committee and does not therefore have formal minutes or
quorum requirements it is recommended that a minimum of 3 people are in attendance
who are not employed at the school. (The group can determine higher number)
Strategic Organisation Resources Committee (Including
Finance Sub Committee)
Model Terms of reference:
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To elect a Chair and appoint a Clerk (if not decided by the governing body)
To monitor progress against the priorities of the School Plan particularly those
related to finance & premises targets
To undertake monitoring visits to the school
To make regular reports to the Strategic Leadership Group and the governing body
To meet at least 3 times each year in terms 1, 3 and 5.
In consultation with the Headteacher, to draft the first formal budget plan of the
financial year and establish and maintain an up to date 3 year financial plan
To consider a budget position statement including virement decisions at least termly
and to report significant anomalies from the anticipated position to the Governing Body
To ensure that the school operates within the Financial Regulations of the MOD/SCE
To monitor expenditure of all voluntary funds kept on behalf of the Governing Body
To annually review charges and remissions policies and expenses policies.
To make decisions in respect of service agreements
To make decisions on expenditure following recommendations from other committees
To advise the Governing Body on priorities, including Health and Safety, for the
maintenance and development of the school’s premises ensuring, as far as is
practical, that Health and Safety issues are appropriately prioritised
To oversee arrangements for repairs and maintenance and determine premisesrelated expenditure
In consultation with the Headteacher , to oversee premises-related funding bids
To oversee arrangements, including Health and Safety, for the use of school
premises by outside users, subject to governing body policy
To establish and keep under review a Building Development Plan
To establish and keep under review an Accessibility plan
To draft and keep under review the staffing structure in consultation with the
Headteacher
To keep up to date with the MOD Performance Management Policy for all categories
of staff and to be responsible for its administration
To oversee the appointment procedure for all staff
To keep under review working conditions and well-being, including the monitoring of
absence and the process of Managing Poor Performance
To oversee the process leading to staff reductions if necessary
This list is not exhaustive and will be added to as the committee becomes more
established. And will include all roles and responsibilities from Annex B of 2015 SCE
SCHOOL GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE TERMS OF REFERENCE
Standards Teaching and Learning Committee
Model Terms of reference:
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To elect a chair and appoint a clerk (if not decided by the governing body)
To undertake monitoring visits to the school
To make regular reports to the Strategic Leadership Group and the governing body
Meet at least 3 times each year in terms 1, 3 and 5
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To consider and advise the governing body on standards and other matters relating
to the school’s curriculum, including statutory requirements and the School’s
Curriculum Policy
Evaluate the school’s ability to meet the Safeguarding and Well Being agenda
To monitor progress against the curriculum and personnel targets of the School Plan
To understand the performance data for the school and monitor pupil numbers and
pupil achievement against published targets
To undertake any necessary training (in or out of school) that is necessary to enable
effective monitoring of targets
To oversee arrangements for individual governors to take a leading role in specific
areas of provision, eg SEND, Literacy, Numeracy, Early Years, Curriculum and
Pastoral Leads. To receive regular reports from them and advise the Governing
Body.
To oversee arrangements for educational visits, including the appointment of a
named co-ordinator
To consider curricular issues which have implications for Finance and Personnel
decisions and to make recommendations to the relevant committee or the Governing
Body
To fulfil statutory duties in relation to all permanent exclusions and fixed term
exclusions
To make arrangements for the Governing Body to be represented at School
Improvement discussions with the LA and for reports to be received by the
Governing Body
Meeting Dates for the Academic Year
The following suggests a possible matrix of meeting dates
Meeting
Strategic
Leadership
Group
Teaching and
Learning
Committee
Strategic
Organisation
Committee
Full
Governing
Body
Term
1
Term
2
Term
3
Term
4
Term
5
Term
6
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
(Chairs and Vice Chairs
for the next academic
year to be appointed
here)
In addition to the main governing body committees the following are required to fulfil
specific tasks.