Category: Empowering Professionals

School governing boards, entrusted with the responsibility of making strategic decisions, require the expertise of governance professionals (clerks) to enhance their practice and knowledge. A recent report from the NGA stresses the importance of using their expertise.

1. Enhancing Governance Practices:
Clerks bring a wealth of knowledge and experience in governance principles, regulations, and best practices. By utilizing their expertise, school governing boards can enhance their governance practices, ensuring transparency, accountability, and effective decision-making. Clerks can provide guidance to ensure the board works in compliance with the appropriate legal and regulatory framework and understands the potential consequences of non-compliance, enabling boards to operate efficiently and in line with regulatory requirements.

2. Strengthening Board Effectiveness:
A clerk can play a pivotal role in strengthening the effectiveness of school governing boards. They can assist in developing clear roles and responsibilities for board members, facilitating effective communication channels, and promoting a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.

3. Keeping Up with Changing Educational Landscape:
The education sector is constantly evolving, with new policies and challenges emerging regularly. Clerks stay abreast of these changes and can provide valuable insights to school governing boards. By utilizing their knowledge, boards can adapt to the changing landscape and make informed decisions that positively impact the school community.

4. Ensuring Compliance:
Clerks can assist school governing boards in understanding and adhering to these requirements. They can provide guidance on regulations, policies, and procedures, ensuring that the board operates within the legal framework. 

5. Professional Development and Knowledge Sharing:
Clerks can act as a valuable resource for school governing boards by facilitating professional development opportunities and knowledge sharing. They can organize training sessions, workshops, and conferences to enhance the skills and knowledge of board members. By fostering a culture of continuous learning, clerks contribute to the growth and effectiveness of the board.

Conclusion:
The clerking role is of utmost importance in school governing boards. By utilizing their expertise, boards can enhance their governance practices, strengthen effectiveness, adapt to the changing educational landscape, ensure compliance, and promote professional development. Embracing the role of a clerk is crucial for schools to thrive in an increasingly complex educational environment.

Built in 2012, Wandsworth Professional Development Centre (WPDC) is a fresh, smart, environment for professional learning in Wandsworth. The purpose-built centre combines contemporary architecture with flexible room spaces, making it the smart choice for professional development events and meetings. The operations team assist with every event, offering support to trainers and welcoming all visitors. 

---

Elizabeth Souter 

Wandsworth’s Head of Service for Children Looked After and Care Leavers
Wandsworth Borough Council 

Why WPDC? 

We use it a lot for training. It allows 80-100 of us to come together for a service morning, thinking and talking about the work we do and to be the best we can be. Some of my staff are based at the town hall, and also satellite offices, so they don’t see each other often. Our work is all linked and related, so knowing what each other is doing is important. 

What was it like? 

We use the space to think and build morale. Since the pandemic, spending time together doesn’t happen that often. It might sound like simple things, but having a space that is modern and clean, where everything works and people are on hand to help you set up is really important. WPDC helps people focus on why they are there because the environment is conducive to concentration and comfort – the things you need to not be distracted. 

---

Florence Clark 

Workforce Development Manager 
Wandsworth Children’s Social Care Academy
Wandsworth Borough Council 

Why WPDC? 

It’s a really nice, big bright space so it feels like a bit of a treat to go there, tucked away in the borough. The front desk staff are on hand to help with IT support, microphones, PowerPoint etc. We have meeting rooms in our building, but you couldn’t get any support if equipment wasn’t working, and the tables/chairs are not laid out. 

What was it like? 

They’re not there to just check you in. We had an event in January which ended up with 70 (not the expected 40) and the WPDC staff bought extra sandwiches and cakes so we could cater for everyone. They’ll also liaise directly with the trainers that we commission to arrange the room, looking at different options for communal areas and break out space. I find if you need a room, and they are all booked up, they will often liaise to fit you in. If we want to order lunch they take care of that. 

---

Sarah Anderson 

Governor Services Clerk 
Smart School Services 
Wandsworth Borough Council 

Why WPDC? 

For head teachers to come out of a school environment (eg, for conferences, pupil referrals, etc) and into a neutral meeting room can make a big difference. 

What was it like? 

Of all the meeting rooms across all the councils it’s the very best to go to. It’s always clean, the toilets are pristine and everybody is so helpful. They are more than willing to set rooms up ahead of the meeting and help with IT, even for people who haven’t a Scooby-Doo about what they are doing. And if you need something printed out you know that the printer has got paper in it. It’s set out like a work meeting space and run along those principles. The ladies are super helpful and professional and always willing to help out. That’s why I like it, you don’t feel like you are on your own. 

---

To find out more about Wandsworth Professional Development Centre.

It’s that time of year again. 
The sun is setting earlier, the weather is getting colder, wetter, and windier. There are more coughs and sneezes with the threat of (ever-present) viruses. All this tends to mean we may spend more time indoors. These winter months can take a toll on your physical and mental wellbeing. You may find yourself feeling more irritable, having low energy, or even struggling to do day to day routines. 

Maintaining your mental health through these winter months is important in supporting your overall health and sense of wellbeing. The following tips can help you beat the winter blues and manage those negative feelings:

Taking care of your mental health is a year-round practice. The winter doesn’t mean you have to be stuck indoors, and it certainly doesn’t mean you can’t do the things you enjoyed in the warmer months. While you may need to be a little more creative, you can certainly still connect with others, enjoy outside activities, and get that social interaction we all need to stay mentally healthy and happy. With these practices and healthy habits, it’s possible to see the sunnier side of winter.  

Inflation is high – so mortgage interest rates and rents are rising, along with food and utility costs. Are you struggling to make ends meet? Are you worrying about how to manage your finances?

If your school is buying into the Employee Assistance Programme you can talk to an expert in relation to money worries, debt advice etc. The online portal can also direct you to ‘Ask Bill’ for free and impartial help, advice and tips on how to reduce your energy bills, manage your money and deal with debt issues, as well as support for tackling these problems in emergency situations.

Ask your Business Manager if your school accesses the EAP and if so, what the details are for the online portal as your first stop and telephone helpline if you need further assistance.

There are also some helpful websites offering guidance:

Money Helper

Citizens Advice

Money and Mental Health

Universal Credit and Other Financial Support

Early Intervention is important so take action now to try and keep your finances on track.

If money pressures are affecting your mental health i.e. increased anxiety, low mood etc – try talking to someone. You can look at what your local MIND offer and/ or talk to your GP.

Interested to find out more about the benefits of Wandsworth’s Employee Assistance Programme for your school? Book a Head to Head below.

At a recent Chairs forum via TEAMS. David Walton (co-chair at St Michael’s CE School) shared his school’s well-being strategy with fellow Chairs. It was an excellent, effective session and there were some great talking points with lots of tips and best practice on how to approach wellbeing.

Why focus on Staff well-being?

• Staff juggle a multitude of different tasks and demands that can place unexpected pressure on them.
• There is a growing nationwide concern and awareness of Mental Health challenges arising from the workplace.
• Staff are more inclined to focus on their pupils’ well-being than their own
• Evidence indicates multiple benefits such as;

OFSTED’s new education inspection framework (EIF) requires schools to consider staff well-being.

Strategy examples
St Michael’s board of Governors worked on a Well-being strategy collaboratively with the senior leadership team to launch initiatives such as;

• forming a Well-being steering committee (x2 SLT, x3 staff and x2 Governors)
• drafting a new Well-being policy
• signing up to the DfE’s Staff Well-being Charter
• establishing a Mental Health and Well-being Governor role
• creating a comprehensive focus and a strong plan of action
• support with regular drop-in sessions to support staff who have concerns
• Inset days were dedicated time to increasing Well-being knowledge (including Keynote speakers)
• Well-being surveys for staff, pupils & parents (Examples of survey questions are available from Governor Services)

Key learnings
A Well-being strategy

• becomes a strong declaration that both Board of Governors & senior leadership team are keenly interested in and committed to staff’s welfare.
• makes both parents and the broader school community aware of the school’s approach to well-being

Success requires continued engagement and commitment in their own well-being. Ultimately when a school involves the whole school community in developing a culture of well-being it brings the greatest benefits possible for pupils and staff.

For learning to thrive, the quality of an education system cannot exceed the quality of its teachers. As the UK’s best-performing schools will testify, they are only as good as the teachers in their classrooms.

With inflation currently around 10% and most teachers likely to experience real-terms salary cuts this year, attracting and retaining excellent educators is challenging.

To stop talent turning their back on the profession for the private sector, we need to add value to our offer. A loyal, highly trained and incentivised staffroom will not only reduce recruitment costs, it delivers stability for students and staff while creating happy, knowledgeable and productive learning environments.