1. Aims, scope and principles

This policy aims to set and maintain standards of conduct that we expect all governors to follow.

By creating this policy, we aim to ensure that governors carry out their role with honesty and integrity, and help us to ensure our school is an environment where everyone is safe, happy and treated with respect.

The code is based on the maintained school governance guide and the Department for Education’s guidance on the school governance regulations 2013. It should be read alongside our constitutional documents (e.g. our instrument of government, standing orders and any scheme of delegation).

Failure to follow the code of conduct may result in disciplinary action being taken, as set out in the appendix.

Please note, this code of conduct is not exhaustive. If situations arise that are not covered by this code, governors will use their judgement and act in the best interests of our school and its pupils.

 

2. The 7 Nolan principles of public life

As governors, we will follow these principles set out by the government, at all times. They apply to anyone who holds public office:

• Selflessness – we will act in the public interest
• Integrity – we will not act or take decisions to gain financial or other material benefits for ourselves, our family, or our friends. We will declare any conflict of interest
• Objectivity – we will act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit. We will use the best evidence and avoid discrimination or bias
• Accountability – we understand that we are accountable to the public for our decisions and actions. To make sure of this, we will be scrutinised where necessary
• Openness – we will act and take decisions openly and transparently. We will not withhold information from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for doing so
• Honesty – we will be truthful
• Leadership – we will actively promote and support the above principles and will challenge poor behaviour wherever it happens

 

3. Governors’ responsibilities

The 3 functions of our governing board are to:

• Ensure the clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction of the school
• Hold leaders to account for the educational and financial performance of the school, and the performance management of staff
• Oversee the financial performance of the school and make sure money is well spent

 

In order to do this effectively, as individuals we will:

• Understand and respect the distinction between the role and responsibilities of the board and those of the school leaders
• Set and maintain an ethos of high expectations for everyone in our school community, including in the conduct and the professionalism of the board itself
• Promote equity and diversity throughout our organisation, including the board’s operation
• Preserve and develop the character of our school
• Not undermine fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs
• Operate and make decisions in the best interests of pupils, informed by the views and needs of our key stakeholders (pupils, parents/carers, staff, the local community and the local authority)
• Follow our school’s policies and procedures, and the procedures of the board as set out in relevant legislation, statutory guidance, and our school’s constitutional documents
• Take responsibility for our self-evaluation, regularly reviewing our board’s performance, constitution and skillset
• Take part in any training or development required to fill any gaps in the skills we need for effective governance
• Understand that where responsibility has been delegated, the board as a whole remains accountable and that important decisions relating to core functions will be made by the full board
• Comply with relevant guidance and legislation that sets out how we must manage our school’s money, and procure goods and services
• Act with integrity and transparency when making financial decisions, and understand that our financial management and decision making will be scrutinised and audited
• You must declare to the Headteacher, by completing form SCCE4 if you are offered, or wish to offer, any gifts, hospitality or advantage. The Headteacher must give approval before you accept or give such items. This does not include token gifts such as gifts from children at the end of term, chocolates, small bunches of flowers (e.g. from a supermarket) or homemade gifts"
• We will work to actively identify and manage risks to our school

 

4. Working with others

We will:

• Support and strengthen school leadership by providing constructive challenge to leaders, and holding them to account
• Respect the role of school leaders and avoid routine involvement in operational matters
• Respect each other’s views
• Work together as a board to develop effective relationships with stakeholders
• Engage meaningfully with the communities we serve and understand that we are answerable to these stakeholders
• Follow the Equality Act 2010, and apply the principles of fairness and equity in everything we do

 

5. Commitment to governance

We:

• Will attend all meetings where possible. Where we cannot attend, we will explain our valid reason and give suitable notice before the meeting.
• Understand and accept the time and workload commitments of the role
• Understand that work should be shared among members and that all governors are expected to take an active role
• Will prepare ahead of meetings to ensure we make informed contributions
• Will participate in regular pre-arranged school visits in accordance with school policy
• Will attend any training or development activity needed to ensure our board has a wide range of skills and expertise

 

6. Openness and transparency

Conflicts of interest

To make sure our board takes impartial decisions without bias, we will:

• Publish an up-to-date register of business and pecuniary interests of all governors, including associate members
• Declare any potential conflicts of interest at the beginning of each meeting, and withdraw from the meeting for the relevant item of business and not vote on the matter.

Publishing information

To ensure our board is transparent and open to the community we serve, we will make certain information publicly available.

• We accept that the following information will be published on the school’s website to ensure transparency:
  • The structure and remit of the board and any committees, and the full name of the chair of each one
  • For each governor who has served at any point over the past 12 months:
    • Their full name
    • Their date of appointment
    • Their term of office
    • The date when they stepped down (where applicable)
    • The body which appointed them
    • Their relevant business and pecuniary interests
    • Their attendance record at board and committee meetings over the last academic year
• Relevant interests include:
  • A business interest in a company that could gain from your position on the governing board
  • Governance roles in other educational institutions
  • Relationships with other governors or members of school staff
• We accept that the information relating to governors will be published on Get Information About Schools
• We accept that the board may collect diversity data to publish on the school’s website, which could include information on any of the 9 protected characteristics listed in the Equality Act 2010
  • We understand that providing this information is voluntary and that, if we have already provided this information, we are able to request it be removed from any reporting
• We accept that the approved board and committee minutes, and any agenda and papers considered at a meeting will be made available to any interested person

 

7. Confidentiality

In the course of our role, we are sometimes privy to sensitive information. We will observe confidentiality when discussing this information, and will not publicly disclose:

Information about sensitive matters

• Information about named individuals (such as staff, pupils and their parents/carers)
• Details of individual governors’ contributions in meetings or how they may have voted

 

Confidential information will never be:

• Disclosed to anyone without the relevant authority
• Used to humiliate, embarrass or blackmail others
• Used for a purpose other than what it was collected and intended for

 

Our commitment to confidentiality does not overrule our duty to report safeguarding concerns to the appropriate channel where we believe a child is at risk of harm.

We will continue to observe confidentiality after we have left office.

Breaches of confidentiality

In the event of a breach of confidentiality, we will inform the chair as soon as possible who will investigate the matter further. If the breach is from the chair the vice chair will be informed.

Governors understand that if they breach confidentiality, they may be suspended or removed.

 

8. Data protection

We will follow the school’s information security processes and measures and data protection policy when ​​​​​​​using, storing, sharing and disposing of personal data.

Our commitment to data protection does not overrule our duty to report safeguarding concerns to the appropriate channel where we believe a child is at risk of harm.

Personal data breaches

We will inform the school’s data protection officer immediately if we believe there has been a personal data breach.

 

9. Social media

We will:

• Abide by any requirements set out in our school’s social media policy

We will:

• Uphold the reputation of our school at all times
• Maintain a professional presence online and carefully consider how we interact with our school community
• Review privacy settings regularly to make sure we are happy with the information about us that is publicly available
• Report any incidents of harassment we experience, or see towards governors, to the chair of governors and the headteacher 
• Carefully consider how appropriate it would be to accept any friend requests from parents/carers, or to join any parent/carer groups associated with our school

We will not:

• Accept friend requests from pupils
• Disclose any information that is confidential or would breach data protection principles
• Make comments online about any members of the governing board or our school community
• Post ​​​​​​​any inappropriate/offensive language, images or comments on social media that may bring us or our school into disrepute

 

10. Monitoring arrangements

This code of conduct will be reviewed and agreed annually, upon significant changes to the law, or as needed. It will be ratified by the full governing board.

 

11. Links with other policies

This policy links with our policies on:

• Safeguarding
• Online safety
• Data protection
• Equalities​​​​​​