Information About the Appointment Of

WCC INFORMATION ABOUT THE APPOINTMENT OF LOCAL AUTHORITY SCHOOL GOVERNORS

Who are Local Authority governors and how are they appointed?

There is a place for one Local Authority governor on the governing body of school’s maintained by the local authority and they share all the legal responsibilities with the other members of the governing body.

Westminster Local Authority governors are nominated by the LA nomination panel which meets twice a year in October and February. Nominations are made with the approval of the Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Young People according to the skills and experience required and determined by the relevant governing body. It is up to the governing body to make the formal appointment. Clerks are asked to inform the Governor Support team as soon as a vacancy arises

The process of appointment is shown on the attached flowchart and follows a common pattern for both new appointments and re-appointments. Any individual or governing body may make a nomination but the person to be considered for appointment or re-appointment must complete an application form. Applicants will only be considered by the panel following the receipt of the completed application form and two satisfactory references.

Before any appointment is made candidates will be asked to meet with the Chair or their representative, they may also be asked to attend a governing body meeting prior to any appointment. It can be a lengthy process given that appointments can only be made at a full governing body meeting after the candidate’s suitability has been assessed.

Appointment/re-appointment process

The Governor Support team will contact LA Governors by email at least six months before their term of office is due to be completed asking if they wish to continue for another term of office. If they wish to be re-appointed they will receive a re-appointment form that will need to be completed and returned to the Governor Support Team so it can be considered by the LA nomination panel.

Each application is considered individually and nominees are selected using the skills criteria that the Chair has sent to the Governor Support Team. Wherever possible any stated preference e.g. school or area are met. If any nominees are suggested by governing bodies they are asked to complete an application form. However, a nomination by the LA panel cannot be guaranteed.

New Candidates

Need to make sure they understand what becoming a governor involves. Being a school governor is very rewarding and can offer an opportunity to give something back to your community and contribute to the education of children. However, it is also demanding and you need to be able to make a time commitment both to attending meetings, but also to developing your knowledge and understanding around your responsibilities. Further information on the role of governor can be found on the Westminster Webfronter site link attached http://webfronter.com/westminster/governors/

If you would like any further information, you can contact Julie Farmer Governor Support: Telephone 0207 598 4781 or e-mail: [email protected]

October 2017 WCC

PROCEDURE FOR APPOINTMENT OF LOCAL AUTHORITY (LA) GOVERNORS

SERVING LA GOVERNOR’S TERM SERVING LA COMING TO END – GOVERNOR GOVERNOR SUPPORT RESIGNS TEAM CONTACT THEM TO SEE IF THEY WISH TO BE REAPPOINTED

GOVERNOR SUPPORT TEAM CONTACTS THE CHAIR OF THE GOVERNING BODY REQUESTING CRITERIA FOR NOMINEE

LOCAL AUTHORITY PANEL CONSIDERS NOMINATIONS AND MAKES RECOMMENDATION TO THE CABINET MEMBER NOMINATION APPROVED BY THE CABINET MEMBER

GOVERNING BODY CONSIDERS NOMINATION AND DECIDES WHETHER NOMINEE MEETS CRITERIA

GOVERNING BODY APPOINTS NOMINEE or REJECTS NOMINEE (ONLY PERMISSIBLE IF GB THINK THE INDIVIDUAL DOES NOT MEET STIPULATED CRITERIA) CLERK RETURNS THE FORM NOTIFYING THE LA OF THE DATE OF APPOINTMENT

October 2017