School governance unit

The school governance unit is a 'core' service supporting headteachers and governing bodies and providing local authority officers with essential information on governing body activities. It is not a delegated service.

The main aim of the unit is to provide effective support and advice to governors, headteachers and clerks to help raise standards of governance in Ealing's schools. The service enables governors to fulfil their role and develop their skills and knowledge to ensure pupils receive the best possible education.

Any comments or complaints about the service should be raised in the first instance with Sue Rumsey.

School governance unit contacts

Name/title	Tel	Email
Sue Rumsey Manager	(020) 8825 6338	srumsey@ealing.gov.uk
Kate Eziashi Support officer	(020) 8825 6483	keziashi@ealing.gov.uk
Preeti Shah Support officer	(020) 8825 7908	pshah@ealing.gov.uk
General service number	(020) 8825 5444	governors@ealing.gov.uk
Fax	(020) 8825 8299

Responsibilities covered and services provided

Governing body membership

maintaining governing body membership records; updating composition of governing bodies in line with new regulations
recruitment of new governors
dealing with membership queries
lapsing of governors for non-attendance
maintaining list of individuals who express interest in becoming co-opted governors and circulating this list to headteachers and chairs of governors on a regular basis
making prompt changes to members details and keeping headteachers and chairs of governors informed of these changes
ensuring that the training and development unit is kept informed of changes in membership so that new governors receive details of training courses available
working in partnership with ‘School Governors One Stop Shop’ to reduce governor vacancies

Agendas and minutes

taking action on minutes received in the office and circulating them appropriately
ensuring that clerks circulate agendas, minutes and headteacher’s termly reports to governors according to the specified deadlines
maintaining files of agendas and minutes of governing body meetings

Advisory support on and implementation of procedures and regulations

providing helpline advice including governors’ email helpline on meeting procedures, queries on statutory regulations etc
advice and guidance on parent, teacher and staff governor election procedures
advice on legislative changes
advice on powers and duties of governing bodies
maintaining a log of queries in order to provide consistent and prompt responses as part of our helpline service
administration of instruments of government
election of parent governor representatives on council committees dealing with education matters
guidance for headteachers and chairs of governors on the agenda items that will be dealt with each term

Recruitment and training of clerks to governors

recruiting, providing induction to and maintaining a pool of clerks to governing
bodies
arranging for potential clerks to ‘shadow’ experienced clerks at meetings
managing the provision of clerks for attendance at governing body meetings
provision of termly standard agendas, notes for clerks and guidance on style of minutes
providing advice and support to clerks
advising headteachers on the application of the NJC agreed rates of pay for clerks to governors

Dissemination of information to governors

information pack for new governors, including appropriate guide to the law from the DCSF
production and distribution of the termly director’s report which ensures that schools are kept up-to-date with current educational developments both within Ealing and nationally
arrangements for chairs of governors and headteachers to meet with senior officers and the Cabinet Deputy Leader on a termly basis for a briefing on the current issues to be discussed by governors and the items in the director’s report