You are here: Home: Education and learning: Schools: Services for schools: Traded services

Traded services

Governor training

1. What is the purpose of this document?
   1. The purpose of this document is to:
      1. describe the services that Calderdale Children and Young People's Services offer to schools;
      2. provide information about the service providers and how the key personnel can be contacted;
      3. explain, in outline, the main terms of the service;
      4. give details of the services to be provided;
      5. identify the ways by which the service will be provided;
      6. identify levels of service provision;
      7. describe service provider obligations and commitments;
      8. establish customer commitments;
      9. describe quality assurance systems and procedures for redress if things go wrong.
   2. The purpose of this specification is to ensure that both provider and user are clear about the services to be offered and the ways the services will be delivered. This will help regulate the dealings between the user and the provider by setting out respective obligations relating to performance and payment for the services.
2. Who are the service providers?
   1. The service provider is Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council, Children and Young People's Services, Education Effectiveness, Governor Support and Training Team.
   2. This service is available to all local authority maintained schools within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale.
   3. If you have any questions about this service or would like further information, please contact:
      • Name
      • Lawrence Killian, Principal School Link Officer
      • Address
      • Heath Training and Development Centre
        Free School Lane
        Halifax HX1 2PT
      • E-mail
      • lawrence.killian@calderdale.gov.uk
      • Telephone
      • 01422 394103
      • Fax
      • 01422 394083
      • Name
      • Debbie Simpson, Governor Support Administrator
      • Address
      • Heath Training and Development Centre
        Free School Lane
        Halifax HX1 2PT
      • E-mail
      • debbie.simpson@calderdale.gov.uk
      • Telephone
      • 01422 394084
      • Fax
      • 01422 394083
3. Service Standards
   1. All core and traded services have agreed to the following principles to ensure that the customer receives a consistently high level of service. This service will:
      1. set standards;
      2. be open and provide full information;
      3. consult and involve;
      4. encourage access and the promotion of choice;
      5. treat all fairly;
      6. put things right when they go wrong;
      7. use resources effectively;
      8. innovate and improve;
      9. work with other providers;
      10. provide user satisfaction.
   2. The following paragraphs explain our service standards and what we are doing to improve them.
      1. Quality awards
         The Local Authority has been awarded the Investors in People Standard. The Governor Support Team works within this framework to provide an effective support service for the empowerment of all individuals on governing bodies.The Governor Support Team also works to the Council's Purpose, Vision, Core Values and Corporate Priorities.
      2. Education expertise
         The Governor Support Team has a wide range of expertise in its small team, both in terms of education and administration. Members of the team have worked in education over many years and have a detailed knowledge of the legislation and workings of school governing bodies. For training purposes, courses are run by experienced governor trainers including headteachers, governors and professional tutors, School Link Officers and other Local Authority Officers.
      3. Qualified staff
         The Co-ordinator of Governor Services attends regular area meetings with the Yorkshire and Humberside Coordinators of Governor Services, Law Society Briefings on matters relating to education legislation, national briefings provided by the Department for Education and Skills and national governor organisation briefings relating to governing body roles and responsibilities. The team possesses a high level of administrative expertise that enables it to establish and promote efficient and effective systems for the benefit of the Local Authority, schools and governing bodies.
      4. Secure identification, CRB checks
         An identity card system is in place and is operational at all times when on school grounds or other centres where work is being carried out. Members of the team have CRB disclosure clearance.
      5. Responsiveness
         The Governor Support Team provides a responsive support and advice service. The team works to the following response times:
         • Telephone: 48 hours
         • E-mail: ten working days (if the recipient is unavailable, then an electronic message will be triggered indicating the anticipated date of return)
         • Fax: ten working days
         • Letter: ten working days
         In complex cases a holding response will be sent giving an indication of how long it is anticipated that a full response will be made.
      6. Courtesy
         You can expect us to be courteous and helpful at all times. When you write to us, telephone us, or visit our offices, the person you are in contact with will give you his or her name and, where appropriate, telephone number.
      7. Properly equipped
         The Governor Support Team has a library of documents, briefings and guidance on all matters relating to school governance. Regular attendance at national and local briefings ensures that team members are kept up-to-date and aware of current issues.
      8. Meets all statutory requirements
         The Governor Support Team meets all of the statutory requirements with regard to provision of advice, support, guidance and training to ensure that governing bodies are able to carry out their responsibilities efficiently and effectively.
      9. Fully insured
         The service has public liability insurance.
4. Performance
   1. The following section shows our level of performance, how we have improved over time and how we compare with our metropolitan neighbours.
      1. 82.52 per cent of schools have bought into the Governor Training traded service in the current year.
      2. The average percentage score for evaluation of governor training courses in the previous year was 1.49 for programmed training and 1.81 for school based tailored training, where 1=Very Good and 2=Good.
   2. Alternative providers: Private providers of education support services may offer a governor training package. Other LEAs may offer services to individual schools. The Diocese may offer training services to schools. National bodies such as the National Governors Council; National Association of Governors and Managers; Institute of School and College Governors; Community Education Development Centre can provide training or consultants. There are also independent governor trainers.
5. How long will a contract for this service last?
   1. The terms of this core service will be reviewed on an annual basis. The service will be provided under the current terms for one year.
6. How can the contract for this service be changed?
   1. Any variations to the service required due to legislative changes will be notified to those buying into the service as appropriate.
7. What services will be provided?
   1. A copy of the Governor Training Programme is sent separately to all governors' home addresses and in new governor induction packs. The programme includes:
      1. induction courses for new governors;
      2. courses on key areas of governors' responsibilities;
      3. a core programme covering all major areas of governing body roles and responsibilities, and written guidance to ensure effective school governance;
      4. courses are added to our programme throughout the year as new initiatives are introduced, to equip governing bodies to respond to the ever changing education agenda;
      5. regular performance management courses to ensure that governors are kept up-to-date with this process. These courses are run by experienced governor trainers including School Link Officers and other Local Authority officers, headteachers, governors and professional tutors.
   2. The Governor Training Programme is offered to all schools at a cost that is reviewed annually in line with inflation. (See under 'pricing' heading for the current year's costs.)
   3. Confirmation of a place on training courses will be sent within five working days of request.
   4. A reminder is sent during the week prior to the training.
   5. The objectives of individual elements of the course will be published in the governor training programme.
   6. The termly Calderdale governor newsletter will include a reminder of the course programme for the term and any additional courses arising out of requests from governors or new legislation.
   7. Consultation meetings with governors ensure that the Governor Training Programme and Support Service provided by the Governor Support Team is appropriate to the needs of all governors. Feedback will be used to inform the governor training programme and areas of additional support sought through the provision of appropriate guidance, such as information bulletins and items in the governor newsletter.
   8. We are happy to respond to requests from individual governing bodies to provide specific training in any area they identify. These school based training sessions will be carefully planned with the Chair of Governors and Headteacher. They will have a positive impact on team building as well as informing and equipping the governing body to be more effective. We welcome the clustering of governing bodies for school based training where there are similar identified training needs.
   9. When accessing a whole governing body training session a fee will be agreed which will include the tutor's fee and any travel or subsistence incurred. The total time to be allocated to preparation, delivery and evaluation will be agreed in advance by the Governor Support Team and governing body.
8. How will the service be provided?
   1. The service provider is committed to providing a comprehensive range of activities that provide governors with the knowledge and skills to carry out their respective roles.
   2. The service in all of its aspects will be provided by appropriately experienced and qualified staff.
   3. We will respect equal opportunities by ensuring that our programme is accessible to all.
   4. We will monitor the programme's quality of activity through observation and regular analysis of feedback from course members.
   5. All queries to the Governor Support Team will receive a personal response wherever possible. All calls will be returned within 48 hours.
   6. Correspondence will be dealt with within seven days of receipt. If the matter cannot be dealt with within that time-scale, a holding letter will be sent with a new completion date.
   7. Confidentiality is assured, where appropriate.
9. What do the suppliers expect of me as a customer?
   1. Schools signing up for the Governor Training Programme should do so by the deadline date stipulated. This should be completed in consultation with the Chair of Governors.
10. How can I be sure of a high quality service?
    1. Acknowledgements for course applications will be sent within five days of receipt.
    2. The customer will receive effective and professional advice at all times.
    3. All callers will be dealt with in a professional and courteous manner in accordance with the Directorate's customer care policy.
    4. The Governor Support Team constantly monitors and evaluates its work in order to improve its performance and to provide a quality service for schools. Course evaluation comments and feedback from the annual Governor Conference are used to inform governor training opportunities.
11. Who do I contact if things go wrong?
    1. Any concerns or complaints about the level or quality of service should firstly be made to the officer or course tutor concerned. If the issue is not resolved to your satisfaction, you should contact the School Link Officer with responsibility in this area:
       • Name
       • Lawrence Killian, Principal School Link Officer
       • Address
       • Heath Training and Development Centre
         Free School Lane
         Halifax HX1 2PT
       • E-mail
       • lawrence.killian@calderdale.gov.uk
       • Telephone
       • 01422 394103
       • Fax
       • 01422 394083
    2. If the issue is not resolved, you should contact:
       • Name
       • Stewart Bradley, Head of School Improvement Services
       • Address
       • Heath Training and Development Centre
         Free School Lane
         Halifax HX1 2PT
       • E-mail
       • stewart.bradley@calderdale.gov.uk
       • Telephone
       • 01422 394100
       • Fax
       • 01422 394083
    3. If the issue cannot be resolved, you may wish to invoke the Council's Complaints procedure .
12. What is the basis of the service price and what will the service cost?
    1. Schools will be charged an amount from their Standards Fund School Development Grant for this service.
    2. The Governor Training traded service covers programmed training. Schools are invited to participate in this annual scheme. Schools are charged on an individual basis related to the number of pupils on roll. In the 2008/09 programme, the minimum charge for a small school with under 100 pupils is £260. The maximum charge is £870 for a school with 450 or more pupils. Some schools opt for additional school-based training alongside the programmed opportunities which takes the maximum charge to £995.  Clerks/governors in participating schools may attend any or all of the programmed training opportunities.
    3. Schools that choose not to participate in the traded service may attend any or all of the training courses in the programme at a cost of £85 (one session course); £130 (two session course) and £190 (three session course) (2008/09 programme).
    4. We are happy to respond to requests from individual governing bodies to provide specific training in any area they identify. These school based training sessions will be carefully planned with the Chair of Governors/Headteacher. These sessions have a positive impact on team building as well as informing and equipping the governing body to be more effective. The cost of such sessions to governing bodies in the 2008/09 programme is £125 per hour of the course or £240 for two hours. Governing bodies may also cluster for school based training. They may find this more cost effective. All charges are reviewed annually.
13. How will I be charged?
    1. Schools will be invited to purchase the Governor Training Buy Back Package annually in March. Schools may also purchase tailored 'School Based Support' training courses on an ad hoc basis that will be charged direct to the school. Non traded service attendance will be charged direct to the school as soon after attendance as practicable usually within seven days.

back to top