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The staffroom

Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

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Original poster

Are governors' minutes available to the public?

11 replies

StuffezLaYoni · 26/05/2013 15:57

A well-meaning ex colleague who is a governor at my last school today informed me of something totally libellous that had been said and minuted about me and another colleague at their previous meeting; something to excuse the school's terrible results.
I wholeheartedly wish she hadn't told me this, but she has, and I want to know if there's anything I can do about it.
Can anyone tell me if minutes are freely available? If so, I will obtain a copy and write a very serious open letter to the governors - buggered if they're going to smear my professional name to excuse their failings, even if I do live 250miles away now. I am livid and upset.

If they're not available to the public, I guess there's not a lot I can do, as I wouldn't drop my ex colleague in it.
Can anyone advise on a course of action?
Thanks.

OP posts:

Chottie · 26/05/2013 17:25

The minutes should be available, have you looked on the school website? failing that contact the Clerk to the Governors to request a copy.

Just be aware that there maybe two sets of minutes, one public and one private.......

SuffolkNWhat · 26/05/2013 17:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

StuffezLaYoni · 26/05/2013 17:33

Thank you!! I'm a bit be,used by the idea of two sets of minutes though. I'm certain when I was a governor there this didn't happen. But I'm not sure how publicised they were.
Ugh, so angry. Will think more clearly tomorrow and decide what to do.

OP posts:

petalpower · 26/05/2013 20:12

The public set of minutes will have the confidential stuff removed.

mayaswell · 28/05/2013 17:43

Personally I would ask the person who told you to show you the minutes. If you are determined to take this further you need to contact the Chair of Governors , but it's going to be obvious that someone has spoken out of turn, and your 'friend' is likely to be in trouble for breaching confidentiality. Did they speak up at the meeting to dispute what was said?

Can your union help?

I don't blame you for being furious, but be careful you don't get yourself into a damaging situation.

mayaswell · 28/05/2013 17:45

Sorry I've just re-read. You wouldn't reveal your source.

Original poster

StuffezLaYoni · 28/05/2013 17:55

Thanks maya. The person has offered to show me the minutes, which I've declined so far. Now that I've established the minutes are NOT confidential I intend to write the letter. I've spoken to the other person who was unfairly maligned and she is happy for me to write the letter and put her name to it. Awkwardly, the chair is the person who made the untrue statements. I thought I would feel less angry by now, but I don't.

OP posts:

Original poster

StuffezLaYoni · 28/05/2013 17:57

Also, friend spoke to the Chair afterwards and asked her to clarify the claims, as she didn't think they were correct. Chair was very awkward and said she'd get back to her on it..."

OP posts:

mayaswell · 29/05/2013 07:30

I think OFSTED would be quite interested too, if you want to go down that route. I know of parents who have cc'd them when making a complaint. It's a good weapon in your armoury.

NotaDisneyMum · 29/05/2013 07:40

It is unlikely that a decent Clerk will minute 'discussions' verbatim, only decisions and actions should be minuted in detail.

Even if the full minutes did record what was said about you, the public minutes would have reference to individuals names removed in line with the DPA.

I would tread very carefully with this, even if you think you won't reveal who told you - if it ever comes out that your 'friend' breached the confidentiality of a Governing Body it could have serious implications for their career (I'm assuming she was a staff-governor).

BadHairYear · 29/05/2013 13:59

It sounds like an awful situation, but I would tread carefully. I doubt there's any way you can handle this without revealing your source. Even if you don't name them it will presumably be obvious that there was a leak when you ask for the minutes? And there can't be that many governors - even fewer that are still in touch with you - so it can't be that hard to work out who told you.

I think you need to take a deep breath and have a long think about whose career this could be worse for: yours or your source's?

Will this actually impact on your career? Will anyone in your new area ever find out about it? Do you have any intention of going back to the old area?

Could it impact on your source's career? How difficult could her life be made if the chair of governors was to find out you'd heard about the comments?

That is not to say that you shouldn't be absolutely livid or have good old rant to family/friends about it, but perhaps that is all you should do, for your source's sake.

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