Diocesan Foundation Governors
Foundation Governors are one of the six existing categories of governor under the most recent government legislation, these being:
- Foundation Governors
- Parent Governors
- Community Governors
- Staff Governors
- Local Authority Governors
- Sponsor Governors
All Church of England Schools must have Foundation Governors, but only at Voluntary Aided schools must they outnumber all other categories of governor put together by a majority of at least two. In the Diocese of Oxford we have three types of Foundation Governor:
- The ex-officio governor – normally the incumbent unless a substitute has been nominated and agreed by the Archdeacon
- Foundation Governors appointed by the Diocesan Board of Education on a nomination from a PC
- Foundation Governors appointed directly by the PCC
So why do we have Foundation Governors?
In short, it is a requirement of the Trust under which Church of England Schools were established, when local churches or patrons undertook to build schools for the education of the children of their local communities, and endowed them with a Church of England Foundation.
They have a special responsibility:
- To ensure that the guiding principles of the founding church are incorporated into all aspects of the governance of the school.
- That the terms of the trust deed governing the school are adhered to.
Every Church of England school must have a Trust Deed which stipulates the principles and legal conditions under which the institution was established and should be run.
The Ethos of the School
While the whole governing body has agreed to this ethos statement, it is the foundation governors who have a particular responsibility to ensure that it is reflected in all aspects of school governance and life.
The Three Main Elements of School Governance
- Strategic Overview
- Critical Friend
- Accountability
The Governing Body is a corporate body that has responsibility for the governance of the school. All members of the governing body, regardless of what category of governor they fall into, have a duty to undertake these three core elements of governance. The role of the Foundation Governor has particular importance, however, for they do have a remit also as representatives of the Founding Church and of the Trustees.
Foundation Governors must bear in mind the principles of the Church of England, of the Trust Deed and of the Ethos Statement of the school in relation to all three core elements of governance.
Strategic Overview
It is the responsibility of the Foundation Governors to ensure that the foundation of the school is sustained and developed. They have a vital role to play in the development of the School Improvement Plan, which now looks at all aspects of school development over a 5 year period. This should include all aspects of the school, underpinned by the ethos statement. Evidence continues to support the view that schools with a strong ethos perform better academically and in a broader context than those that do not.
Whether the Governing Body is considering the work/life balance of the headteacher, the asset management plan relating to the school buildings, or the setting of targets for SATS or GCSE results, it is the role of the foundation governor to put it within the context of the Christian foundation of the school.
The foundation governor will also be able to bring to the school its strategic relationship to both the local and diocesan church community and through this to the local community in a wider sense, and vice-versa. This will be explored in greater depth in the next session.
Critical Friend
In the same way, the foundation governor has a specific additional role and an added perception to bring to this aspect of school governance.
Accountability
Foundation Governors can add the extra dimension of accountability in relation to the foundation of the school, the trust deed and the ethos statement. In practical terms this can have a wide range of applications, perhaps the most obvious of which is in relation to the premises of the school, which the governing body are effectively stewards of for future generations.
For more information
Anyone who would like to know more about being a Church school governor or any existing Church of England school governor who needs extra information about their school and their additional responsibilities should contact:Roy Davey or Penny Bingham on 01865 208237.
Appointment of Diocesan Foundation Governors
Appointments of Diocesan Foundation Governors are made by the Foundation Governors Committee, on the recommendation of the Incumbent; the committee meets 3 times a year, usually in March, June and November. Once an appointment has been approved by the committee the Diocese will inform Governor Services at the relevant Local Authority. The term of office for all Diocesan foundation governors is 4 years but under the new regulations may be fixed by the Board to a term 1-4 years. A Diocesan Foundation Governor can resign at any time during those 4 years. The Clerk to the Governors should inform us of any changes to the governing body. Nomination forms are available to download or alternatively contact Penny Bingham on 01865 208237.
Nomination form
Declaration Form
Guidlines for Appointing Diocesan Foundation Governors
Role of the Church School Governor
Guidance for Newly Appointed Governors
Governor Training Course Programme
The diocese provides a programme of training for governors in its church schools; this is complimentary to Local Authority provision and is geared to the roles and responsibilities of governors in Church Schools. This training is provided free to those schools in the Service Agreement, but a small charge is made to schools that have chosen not to join the service agreement.
Whole Governing Body training can also be provided within schools, for further information please contact Roy Davey on 07801 884397
Governor Briefings
Useful links
Governornet
Continyou
National Governors Association
Information for School and College Governors
SGOSS
Teachernet
