Devon Association of Governors

Executive Officer

David Tall

Devon Association of Governors - Run by Devon Governors for Devon Governors

The Activities of DAG

• DAG is recognised by the Local Authority (LA) as a formal channel for collective consultation with governors.  The Executive is in regular contact with senior LA officers and has direct access to the highest officials.

• DAG has representatives on all LA consultative groups and working parties and plays a leading role in a number of the key committees (currently holding the position of Chair of Schools’ Forum).  These representatives feed back information to the DAG Executive on a regular basis.  These ‘Reports Back’ are compiled and printed as an appendix to the Minutes of Executive meetings.

• DAG provides a county forum for issues of common concern and makes representations about them to the LA, to Government and to other appropriate bodies.  It takes a full part in national consultations in association with the National Governors’ Association.

• In conjunction with Devon Governor Support Services, DAG produces a Checklist at the beginning of each term.  This Checklist seeks to provide an aide-memoire to governors on all the likely tasks or issues to be handled during the ensuing term.  Three hard copies are sent to every school that has bought in to DAG (one copy for the Chair of Governors, one for the clerk and one for the headteacher).  It is recommended that the school makes further copies for individual governors.

• In addition to the Annual Conference DAG organises more localised meetings once a year for all Local Learning Communities (LLCs) across the county.  These meetings take place fairly early in a school term, focus on current issues (using the Checklist as an agenda) and allow governors from the full cross-section of local schools to discuss or raise issues of immediate concern.  All schools in relevant LLCs are contacted well in advance of the meetings. Meetings are publicised well in advance.

• DAG Newsletters are provided by e-mail to all interested governor contacts free of charge, monthly.  They attempt to provide governing bodies with the latest information, news and deadline reminders that will help GBs work efficiently.  They supplement the Checklist and give additional information as particular issues develop.  We try to give a list of contents for each update to enable governors to go to matters of immediate concern to them.  Wherever appropriate we indicate where further detailed information can be found.

• DAG has been midwife to DAISI (the Devon Arts in Schools Initiative) which is now a separate company and charity. DAG members are on its Board.

• As finances permit, DAG publishes occasional papers.  These have included Collective Worship, which gained national recognition, and Funding Their Future (in conjunction with Heads’ associations) to which reference was made in the House of Commons.

• DAG manages its own website which is regularly updated and contains information on nearly all current educational issues.