Are you a primary school governor? A very simple question...

[Wigeon]

...does the school provide tea and coffee for free at governor meetings (full meetings and sub-committees)?

My DH is. I think they do....but he said that the sandwiches were rubbish (he was there from 6 until 9.30 last night).

I was a governor for 12 years, if we wanted a cuppa we could help ourselves in the meeting room before the meeting started, quite often there were jugs of water on the table. Sometimes someone would bring some cake or similar. Whatever was provided was never charged for. I hope the situation is the same as I am soon to go to my fist meeting as a new governor again.

Nope.
Although meetings are only allowed to be 2hours long (not sure if that is a Welsh thing or not) so not really needed.

He got sandwiches !

We have never been provided with tea/ coffee. Or even offered water out of plastic cups. In fact at last week's subcommittee (in the staff room), as people were coming in, the Deputy HT got up, made himself a coffee, didn't even offer anyone a glass of water, and sipped the coffee through the meeting.

Right at the end of the meeting, I suggested that it would be nice if there were basic refreshments at governor meetings (just tea and coffee), and the Deputy HT said "Well, I can tell you now that it won't be coming out of the school budget!". .

Just trying to assess whether refreshments are provided at all other governor meetings...

Ridiculous attitude.

We have a cuppa each to take into meetings just using the staff room stuff and for full govs head supplies snacks like crisps/ biscuits. For committee meetings no snacks on the table but he says to help ourselves to whatever is in the staff room before the meeting starts if we want....

We help ourselves to drinks and someone bring cakes.

Does the Deputy HT want a governing body???!!...

Most schools run a kitty for tea/coffee in the staffroom and in some staffrooms this is a very tetchy subject.

Even with a kitty though, lots of schools see visitors and volunteers as guests and do not begrudge them a little hospitality.

I'm guessing if I was a plumber, I wouldn't want to to be working at the deputy head's home!

I was thinking about members of staff paying for tea via a kitty vs governors paying for their own tea. The big difference is that most employees do not expect their employer to pay for their food / drink during working hours (I certainly wouldn't expect my public sector employer to pay for my daytime cuppa). Volunteers are giving their time for free, and so it's completely different.

rabbitstew: actually, I think he would much prefer it if there wasn't a governing body. At this rate, his wish is going to come true!

Tea/coffee and occasionally biscuits. Drinks usually offered before the meeting starts so if you dash in at the last minute then you probably don't get a drink and have to sit looking at the plate of biscuits out of reach on the other side of the room!

We have 15 on our Governing Body.

At each meeting there is an urn with tea bags, coffee, sugar and milk provided. Also 2 plates of biscuits.

Free tea and coffee and biscuits.

I take cake. But I take cake to everything

I

Urns of hot water plus instant coffee and tea-bags to make your own tea plus plate of biscuits. Nothing fancy, but enough to make you feel welcome.
Same at the committee meetings too.

Its not actually provided but we CAN make it if we want to....sometimes I do

I would not expect Twinnings leaf tea and freshly ground filter coffee - instant Nescafe plus Tesco own brand tea bags.

I have brought homemade cake or biscuits to each meeting so far...

Yes, we can help ourselves to drinks and there's usually a plate of biscuits.

I'm not sure why any staff member would resent the Govs some light refreshments. It seems churlish and petty to deny you a drink.

Yes. It comes from the stash for parents, not the staff stash, I think.

Tea & coffee yes - but never sandwiches and certainly no hint of pizza

ours are held in the staffroom, where we help ourselves to tea and coffee, theres always biscuits or cake and this week we had a training session where we had pizza, salad, crisps and even wine! that was unusual though

Well it not up to the DH what comes out of the school budget, it is up to the governors. Refreshments at meetings are a permissable expense, but someone will need to make the tea.

I can see that if there are staffroom wars over disappearing 'kitty' supplies then it might be difficult, but really the school should pay for a supply for guests and governers so that no-one feels awkward about it.

Is this a state school?