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Original poster

School Governor question re: conflict of interest.

41 replies

figleaf · 10/07/2006 21:04

Been governor for 3 years. I`m a SAHM but use to be secondary school teacher ( Faculty head ). In the past I expressed an interest in being chair of govs but head has wanted current chap to stay put because she was dreading OFSTED and thought it was easier if she already had experienced chair ets...etc. Ofsted have just been. The school did well. I spoke to the Inspectors with the current chair as I am chair of Curriculum ctte and on the Finance ctte. The current chair told me that my knowledge of the school and system left him standing so he decided to shut up and let me answer the questions.

Today the head told me that the Inspectors congratulated her on having such well informed Governors ie me and thanked me for my input. She then proceded to tell me that the current chair would retire at the end of the year but she felt that it wouldnt be a good idea for me to be the new chair. She felt Id make a better deputy to a fellow governor who is not a parent at the school and "not out there collecting their kids everyday". She seems to think this could lead to conflicts of interest.

She said as deputy I could do all the "day to day" stuff and the chair would be there as a distant figure to be brouight in if needed.

He is not a regular attender at Full gov meetings but has had a long association with the school.

What do we think about this? I feel a bit miffed - should I?

OP posts:

mrsdarcy · 10/07/2006 22:00

Our last Chair was very visible: she had a child at the school, helped in class and was involved in the PTFA.

The Chair before that had grandchildren at the school, sometimes did the school run, but was more of an "elder statesman".

Schools can be so cliquey that I can see the benefit of having someone who is more of an older stateman, than one of the playground mothers. Why not be deputy and continue on the committees? What's the attraction with being chair?

helsi · 10/07/2006 22:03

Not got children at school yet but I can tell you that my parents were on the BOG's at my school as a child and were very proactive. My dad was chair and the board had to fight for the school to stay open etc etc blah blah.

I think it makes no difference at all if the school have a "visible" Chair. In fact many people at the chool gate may appreciate this and feel that they can approach someone they "know" rather than someone who they don't.

Original poster

figleaf · 10/07/2006 22:51

The attraction is that I have the time to do the job, I care, I know alot about the school and the system and I think I can usefully contribute. Yes I could do all that as deputy but I kind of feel that Ive been lined up to do the donkey work for someone (older man in suit) that can not give the time etceg He has made only 2 od the 5 meetings we have had this year. I think she has spoken to him in relation to the job just as she has spoken to me. I dont know if this is common, Id have thought it was for the governors to elect a chair not the head to suggest/line one up.

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nooka · 10/07/2006 22:52

I'd be miffed too. Surely chairs are intended to be actively involved, not distant figures? I have just decided against standing as governor of my children's school because I think I have too many other commitments at the moment, but you sound highly involved and active - surely ideal, and definately better than soemone who doesn't bother to turn up to meetings. Do you think the head feels threatened by you? I work in health where the chair appoints the chief executive, not the other way around, which seems a better arrangement to me (oh and non executives get paid too)

Christie · 10/07/2006 22:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

figleaf · 10/07/2006 22:58

I could ask her (the head)if the conflict of interest thing is just a polite way of saying I think we wouldnt work well together or I could just make it known to other governors that Id like to stand .Not sure what to do.
Dont want to be where Im not wanted but dont want to do donkey work for man-in-suit who works away alot. Kind of think that if she doesnt want me as chair I shouldn`t do either job, just carry on as I am now.

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puddle · 10/07/2006 22:59

Figleaf were you the person who posted about all the committees being sewn up when you started as a gov? It all sounds a bit too cosy at your school if so - at ours everything is up for grabs at the beginning of term and that includes the chair. Do you have terms of reference for the Chair and deputy? It would be a good idea to have a look.

Regardless, it is not the role of the head to apporve or disapprove governors or chairs. It may suit her to have a 'distant' chair - it may suit the school to have someone who is closer to the issues.

sobernow · 10/07/2006 23:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

marthamoo · 10/07/2006 23:05

That stinks. The only one of our school governors I know by sight is another Dad - he's often there dropping off his two sons in the morning. Tbh, if I had something I wanted to bring up with the Board of Governors - he'd be my first choice, because he's there and he's hands on.

You stand, figleaf - and best of luck.

edam · 10/07/2006 23:05

Cheeky mare. Expecting you to be the dutiful little woman doing all the work while the big man takes all the credit. Twice!

Who actually appoints the governors - IIRC it isn't actually the head, is it? If you feel strongly that you want to be involved (in your shoes I'd be tempted to say 'sod them', tbh) I'd bypass her entirely.

Suspect Puddle's right, she wants an easy ride from a chair who isn't too involved.

Original poster

figleaf · 10/07/2006 23:12

puddle- yes I am the one who said all the cttees were sewn up. I all but begged to get onto the finance ctte and the curriculum ctte that I now chair was a working group until the almost certain OFSTED visit upgraded us to a ctte.

Thanks all of you for agreeing with me. DH thinks I may be viewing the conversation through a paranoid filter.

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Tommy · 10/07/2006 23:33

I'm sure the Governors elect their chair and if the Head doesn't like it, then that's just tough bananas (as we say chez Tommy)
My friend is Chair at her children's school - she is there every day picking them up.

Pisces · 11/07/2006 00:39

Figleaf, it seems to me that the HT does not want you because you are too intelligent and may not bow to her every demand! Most HT's like Chairs who are "Yes" men/women.

I have been a Governor by the way and I think she is definitely not wanting you to stand. You might just give her a run for her money! LOL!

You jolly well stand and make sure that the school is run for the children and the parents and not what the HT wants all the time. Some parents are unaware that the Governors run the school and not the HT. She has to do what you say.

Good luck if you decide to stand!

Original poster

figleaf · 11/07/2006 08:16

Woken up with a few ideas... Thought Id ring the Governor development service and ask how common it is for heads to discuss this sort of thing, did they think there could be a conflict of interest if I took the chair and if it was unusual to be a parent at a school to be the chair of governors (just for info Im not a parent governor, Im the LEA governor but both my kids go to the school). The last meeting of the govs is next week. It is a training session but if this chap that the head wants is there I thought I might have a word with him. Along the lines of that Id like to be chair as I have time to give etc etc but that I dont fancy the deputy job. I rather think the head may have told him that me being the deputy was "in the bag" and this is making him feel better about the chairs job as he knows his work commitments mean he isnt there a lot.

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Tommy · 11/07/2006 09:36

good luck figleaf - I'm really shocked that the Head has been canvassing like this - I'm sure it's totally out of her remit and I'm sure Gov Services at your LEA would say so too.
Let us know how you get on!

Freckle · 11/07/2006 09:40

I agree that the head is manipulating the situation to get a chair that she can "use". I think your previous experience, knowledge of the school, etc., is something that she like to call on when necessary, such as the Ofsted inspection, but that you don't seem to be the sort of chair who would just go along with what she wants.

Although the BOG and the head are supposed to work together in the best interests of the school, to a degree BOGs are also there to keep a check on the head, so that it is the school's best interests at heart rather than the head's position/career.

My gut feeling would be that you should stand for chair but refuse to be deputy if you don't get it. Ultimately it will be seen what the preferred chair's talents are - which seem currently to be having commitments which mean that he can't attend meetings.

tenalady · 11/07/2006 09:41

I see what they mean about a play ground mum too, you know you need a bit of distance from the coal face iykwim. All the same its a shame to lose the kudos of the position given the work you would need to put in. Tricky

prettybird · 11/07/2006 09:53

I don't konw the Englush system, but if iti s anything like the Scottish one, then it is not up to the head to decide who should be next chair - that is for the Board to elect.

One thought I had when reading this: interesting that both the outgoing Chair and the one she wants are both men. Do you think that she is threatened, or at least uncomfortable, with the idea of a woman holding a postion of power over (or at least alongside) her?

Original poster

figleaf · 11/07/2006 10:01

I wondered about the Male thing too. Also the old chair is in his 70s and the prefered chap is very late 50s. I am 38 and female. Younger than the head - I wondered if that had a part in it too ie she feels she needs a substabtial presence and maybe I dont fir the bill. Off to ring the service now... back later.

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hub2dee · 11/07/2006 10:09

Perhaps he'd make an excellent deputy for you, figleaf, for times when you need to pull in a bit of gravitas (or whatever).

You go for it.

flashingnose · 11/07/2006 10:19

Actually I agree with you hub - think figleaf as Chair and man-in-suit as her Deputy would be a much better combination.

Really really think you should ignore Head and stand for the Chair - she's lining up an absent "yes man" by the sound of it .

Original poster

figleaf · 11/07/2006 10:37

Just spoken to Development service Lady. She was a bit miffed that the head had had these conversations with me and man-in-suit. She thought I should wait till September, tell the clerk (who is school sec also)that I wish to stand for chair and enquire when the nomination forms would go out. She also thought a chat with the prefered chap may be good idea incase he has had it sold to him that no one wishes to stand etc.

The Gov development lady said it sounds like I make the head nervous. The head knows that a few things need to change and is perhaps concerned that I may wish to do it all on day one. She thinks I need to find a way to reassure the head that this would not be the case.

I think my biggest obsticle would be the election. If I stood against man-in-suit then we would have to leave the room while the election occured. During this time the conflict of interest thing could be aired and the head could state a preference for a more distant chair ie man-in suit not me.

OP posts:

Hallgerda · 11/07/2006 10:46

I wouldn't worry about the five minutes out of the room particularly - if the Head is hostile to your application she will probably lobby your fellow BOG members well before that. Similarly, you could have a quiet word with them yourself .

hub2dee · 11/07/2006 11:02

Presumably both would get a chance to say why they thought they were best qualified to take the post before leaving the room... and figleaf then floors 'em...

Some kind of generic, calm disucssion with the HT about a couple of things which need changing (in a way that makes them feel secure about your pov, not threatened) would not go amiss... attempt to find out what the HT might want changed, and how they might prefer that change to occur... then, erm, 'modify your message' so it's comfortable...

Original poster

figleaf · 11/07/2006 11:09

Just left man-in-suit answerphone message for him to give me a ring next time hes in Bristol. I hope it is a reasonable thing to do but I think I will try to find out if he wants the job or not. If he does I wont stand against him. I think Id loose the election as the head would probably have little chats with enough governors to sway the vote. I wont stand for deputy though either way.

Is this a good plan?

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