Should governors be involved in the return to school process?

[anotherusername1234]

Name changed for this, but I was just wondering whether Governors should be involved in the return to school process? We haven't heard a peep from our chair or head which I find a bit odd. Surely this is the kind of operational stuff is part of the role? Just wondering what's happening in other schools with regards to Governance, especially as it was mentioned in the daily briefing today.

The NGA have published some advice. The reopening of school is seen as operational. However, they do say the Chair should be in communication with the Head. They also need to know a risk assessment has been carried out and check its robustness. We are having an Extraordinary Governors’ meeting once the plan for reopening has been finalised so it can be discussed with the Governors. The Government are also meant to be providing some guidance for Governors too, but with the timeliness of all the other guidance they are producing I am not holding out much hope.

www.nga.org.uk/News/NGA-News/May-2020/The-governing-board’s-role-in-the-safe-opening-of.aspx

They need to have checked risk assessments as health and safety is something they need to consider. The actual expansion to opening is operational and the head's decision.

Our head is meeting with SLT tomorrow, and then feeding back to us as governors on Thursday.

You ask questions once they have a plan and ensure it covers all risks.
Governors are strategic and not operational.

The NGA are running a scheme of 8 courses presently. Number 3 starts this week in my area. There are many " School opening action plans" circulating that cover all bases. The Key also provides some guidance.
Are you having your Committee meetings online to cover priority issues and get additional updates?

@cabbageking no, radio silence during this whole thing. No meetings, no emails, nothing. That's why I wondered what should be happening. The email with the plans for reopening is going out to the parents today so I presume all the plans have been finalised and not run past us

I would email the clerk and Chair and ask why you are not having meetings. The Chair at the very least should be in regular contact with the Head

Our chair seems to have disappeared. He's head at another school so no doubt very busy but we havent been able to get any sort of contact or response from him

The clerking agency have furloughed the clerk!

How can they furlough the clerk, there should still be meetings held?

Apparently lots of schools cancelled their budget approval meetings, as the LA agreed it could be approved by email, meaning they had no demand and had to furlough "to protect the business". I have made my feelings felt!

Have you had the Emma Knight email?

Your need to test the robustness of the plans to return to school and hence need to know what these are and how they arrived at that decision.
The meeting on the 28th will decide if schools can open on the 1st and hence you need to see the plan and question it before this date.

We have had 3 meetings and interviews, online training around the new situation, a virtual meeting policy and had a weekly update since school closed.

You need to be asking your Chair for an update and any Chairs Action taken. There have been lots of updates from the Dfe and the NGA.

You need to ask and evidence that you did ask.