Run by Devon Governors for Devon Governors
Run by Devon Governors for Devon Governors
School Meals NEW
School Meals - a letter from Sue Clarke and a viewpoint from Vic Ebden.
Emergencies
Every school should now have received the latest information from our Local Authority on what to do in the event of school closures and extreme weather. If you have not yet had a chance to read the advice, see Are You Ready - Planning for School Emergencies, a letter sent to all Devon schools which gives links to further details.
(3 November 2011)
Area Meetings Autumn 2011
This term Governor Update Meetings were held by DGS in four venues across Devon. In order not to split the support for these meetings, rather than DAG running an additional meeting a DAG Area Officer attended each of the DGS meetings. In addition, one DAG Autumn Term meeting was held in West Devon. See Area Meetings Autumn 2011 for notes covering subjects discussed at both types of meeting.
(2 November 2011)
Industrial Action November 30th
The National Association of Headteachers (NAHT) represents over 28,000 heads and deputies and is currently balloting on strike action. A co-ordinated day of action on 30th November may well include the NAHT and other classroom unions.
Governing bodies will need to be aware of their duty with regards to keeping schools open. The local authority has now provided guidelines and these can be viewed here. The advice provided for the industrial action taken earlier this year is also available to view here.
(28 October 2011)
Devon County Council Structure
Following the re-structure that has taken place a chart has now been produced. Under the Chief Executive Phil Norrey, the work of the Council is divided into two sections with a Strategic Director – Place and a Strategic Director – People. A structure chart for the Education and Learning department is being worked on and will be available later this term. View the DCC structure.
(24 October 2011)
Fairer Funding and The Value of Federation
Cllr Christine Channon recently addressed the f40 conference to talk
about the value of federation in Devon. Cllr Channon’s presentation is
available to download
(
Powerpoint file). This conference was held on 17th October for members
of f40 – the group that campaigns for fairer funding of education.
Speaking at the conference, Sarah Healey, Director of Education Funding at the Department for Education said: “The government has made clear that the current funding system is neither fair nor transparent. However, these are times of limited resources. The Treasury has set out spending plans for the next four years and we are unlikely to see any additional funds. So this change is about getting the system right – not about getting more money into it.”
Cllr Ivan Ould, who chaired the conference and is also lead member for children’s services in Leicestershire, said he thought the conference, which was attended by a range of MPs, senior councillors, head teachers, education finance officers, governors and schools forum representatives, had gone very well and delegates came away reassured that change was on its way.
(18 October 2011)
The Role of the Chair of Governors in schools and Academies
This recently published report by the National College for School Leadership has been very well received by many governors. Have a look and let us know what you think. The report can be viewed here.
(1 October 2011)
DAG nomination for SW Regional Director of NGA
Ian Courtney, Vice-Chair of DAG, has been nominated by the DAG Board for the position of South West Regional Director of NGA.
(29 September 2011)
Governors E-Learning NEW
Governors E-Learning (GEL) is a collaborative approach to school governor training. The aim is to provide effective and accessible training online, enabling governors to access a broad range of modules at their own pace and convenience. All of the GEL online modules are designed to enhance the learning opportunities available for school governors.
Vic Ebdon, DAG Board Member, says “I have done eight GEL governor training modules so far and they have, without exception, been very thorough and well written. They are an excellent source of information - and the Learning Reviews are a real sharpener for one's subject knowledge. I commend them to colleagues.”
Devon County Council is a subscribing Local Authority so there is no charge to Devon school governors. You just need to register. See the link at the bottom of the GEL home page (ignore the free 30 day trial).
(29 September 2011)
AGM - 5th July 2011
The forthcoming DAG AGM is at 6 pm on 5th July 2011 at County Hall, Exeter. See Agenda for further details, including the verified statement of DAG Accounts for period ending 31 March 2011. Governors are encouraged to attend. Please let David Tall know if you are attending and he will make the necessary arrangements.
(29 June 2011)
SEF to be Discontinued
Ofsted have announced arrangements for the discontinuation of the SEF website, from 22 July 2011, and from that date schools will no longer be able to access the form.
From September 2011 schools will be able to provide to Ofsted self evaluation info in whatever format they chooses - including the present format if they choose.
It would be a shame to waste all the effort you have put in to this important document and it is probably best to save it initially and develop future systems using it as a guide.
To do this by 21 July: 1) Save the most recent SEF on the SEF website; 2) Submit the saved SEF, using the SEF website, which will automatically create a PDF version of the SEF; 3) Save the PDF of the SEF to school's own electronic filing system.
(29 June 2011)
Thank you from Judith Johnson
“As I leave the post of Director for Learning and Schools and a new Head of Education and Learning is recruited, I wanted to thank you all - individually, as collective governing bodies and as the Devon Association of Governors - for the lovely Dartington crystal gifts and your positive and warm messages of support to me.
“More importantly I want to take this final opportunity to thank you all for the commitment and quality you all bring to your volunteer role with schools and children Over the all too short time I have been in Devon your resilience and care in schools has never failed to impress me.
“The work you do is unique, valuable and valued. I consider myself fortunate to have experienced so much from you all in my role. Please do rise to the new challenges with energy and vision and I am confident it will bring success to your schools and communities.
“In the words from the Bovey Tracey school choir at the DAG conference: ‘You raise them (schools) up to be more than they can be’ ...... And I hope that this potential brings some reward to you all Good fortune to you all and good learning in the year ahead. With thanks.” Judith Johnson
(25 June 2011)
Ivan Godfrey responds to MBE
Further to the marvellous news of Ivan Godfrey’s MBE in the recent Birthday Honours List, he has written a reflective, humble, summary of his feelings, ‘A Case of Mistaken Identity?’, relating what it is like to be one of (only) 4 Governors recognised nationally, on this occasion.
(14 June 2011)
Ivan Godfrey gets MBE
It was announced in the 2011 Queen’s Birthday Honours that Ivan Godfrey, for many years Chair of Governors at Two Moors Primary School; the first, and for 7 years Chair of Devon Education Forum and leading light in DAG and Devon Governance, has been awarded the MBE. DAG salutes Ivan for his amazing and deserved recognition and achievement for services to education in Devon. We also honour Ivan’s, and his wife Sue’s, selfless charitable work.
(11 June 2011)
School Companies
Schools are being ever more innovative in seeking ever greater VFM through cooperation and even generating income through different models. See a Short Guide to Governors on School Companies and the roles GBs must play in their establishment and oversight. There will be further information during the Annual Conference on 25 June 2011.
(8 June 2011)
TES/NGA Survey
The TES wants to hear from governors. As they did two years ago, the NGA is working with the TES to survey governors. Some of the questions remain the same as in 2009, in order to see if attitudes have changed over the intervening period, but others have been updated to take into account the Coalition Government’s policies, all Devon Governors are entitled to participate. so please encourage others to fill it. If there are enough responses, it will provide useful data and NGA hopes some much needed coverage of the issues facing our schools. In 2009 there were 1407 respondents – it will be great to exceed that. The TES/NGA survey can be found at: TES Governors' Survey.
(2 June 2011)
Coaching in Schools Event
Find out how incorporating coaching into a school culture brings powerful transformation to a learning environment. Hear from a panel of experts who have developed key coaching principles within schools and have experienced first-hand the real impact coaching has on teaching and learning. The first 50 tickets are FREE! Get more information and book your place.
(1 June 2011)
For earlier news items see News Archive.