Issue - decisions

Final report of the Education Scrutiny Committee - School Governors

RESOLVED: (i) That the contents of the final report of the Education Scrutiny Committee on their review of School Governors be noted.

(ii) That the following be agreed as the Executive’s response to the recommendations arising from the review:

Recommendation	Comment from Executive
Acknowledge the significant voluntary contribution of school governors and thanks them all for their years of service to York's schools	Agree
Notes the School Governor Support and Development Service Team for their support for the scrutiny review and notes the resulting benefit to the service area as detailed in Annex F.	Thanks the School Governor Support and Development Service Team for their support for the scrutiny review and notes the resulting benefit to the service area as detailed in Annex F.
Continue to develop improved methods of advertising vacancies, to attract a diverse mix of applicants, which will be recorded and monitored (ongoing)	Agree
Create an information guide to aid recruitment and distribute it to all schools	Agree action and ask that officers complete within this academic year, to distribute by the end of the summer term
Continue the use of the exit questionnaire as governors leave post to understand better their reasons for so doing	Agree
Regularly maintain, update and develop the database	Agree
Share information on best practice with all York's schools	Agree
Consider the best methods for training governors to maximise skills both for whole governing bodies or on-line.	Agree and ask for a report back to the Executive Member by Easter 2009

REASON: To enable the introduction of appropriate measures in response the Scrutiny Committee’s findings and recommendations.

(iii) That the report be referred to the Social Inclusion Working Group for discussion.

REASON: In the interests of broadening the pool of potential school governors and increasing the number of applicants from minority groups.