Have you accessed the recording and resources from this term’s FREE Clerking with Confidence Workshop? If not, here’s a summary of what you missed (link to full recording and resources below):
Clerking with Confidence Workshop Autumn 2 – 19th November 2024
Overview
Review governance updates, discuss foundational knowledge on meeting administration, and share best practices for effective minute-taking.
Key Takeaways
- Ofsted inspection framework changes include removal of overall effectiveness grade and updates to ungraded inspections
- Prevent duty training is recommended for governors as part of safeguarding obligations, though exact requirements may need board discussion
- Minutes should be concise yet meaningful, focusing on key decisions, actions, and evidence of challenge rather than verbatim accounts
- Annual business planning and agenda setting are crucial for effective governance throughout the year
Topics
Ofsted Inspection Framework Updates
- Removal of overall effectiveness grade
- Updates to ungraded inspections
- Inspections to be announced on a Monday for that week
- New definitions for key judgments and provision judgments
- Launch of Ofsted Academy for inspector training transparency
Prevent Duty Training for Governors
- Recommended as part of safeguarding obligations under Keeping Children Safe in Education
- Exact requirements not explicitly clear in guidance
- Suggested to discuss at board level and document decision-making process
- Consider having safeguarding lead governor complete training if not all governors
Effective Minute-Taking
- Focus on concise, meaningful summaries rather than verbatim accounts
- Highlight key decisions, actions, and evidence of challenge
- Use color-coding to make challenge easily identifiable
- Include decision and action trackers at the end of minutes
- Consider recording meetings (with permission) to reference if more detail needed later
Annual Business Planning
- Develop a yearly overview of key governance tasks and topics
- Align agenda items with school development plan priorities
- Use a structured approach to ensure all statutory and strategic items are covered
Meeting Administration
- Aim for agenda preparation 2-3 weeks before meeting
- Circulate papers 7 days before meeting – even if it is just the agenda and minutes of the last meeting
- Aim to draft minutes within a week of meeting
- Follow up on actions promptly
Next Steps
- Review and discuss Prevent duty training requirements at next board meeting
- Evaluate current minute-taking practices and consider implementing a more concise, focused approach
- Develop or refine annual business plan for governance activities
- Check school website compliance with updated guidance on required information
- Consider joining Pro Clerking Members Club for additional resources and support (reopens February 2025)
View the full recording and resources here – available until 21st December 2024 unless you are a member of the Pro Clerking Members Club in which case you have full access to all past workshops 🙂
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All our best
Ellie & Becky
In collaboration with Governors’ Virtual Office
