Government to improve school governance

TdaNews Direct
Published: 12 May, 2008

The Government has launched a review into school governance to help improve standards in this area.

Schools minister Jim Knight will chair a working group, which will consider research that has been undertaken in the area to ascertain how best to raise standards and advise ministers on how to achieve this goal.

Mr Knight said: "A consistent theme from research is that the most effective governors take a strategic role in guiding and supporting the school's work and challenging headteachers to take their schools on to the next level."

He added that there is evidence supporting the idea that there is a link between good governance and pupils' achievements, highlighting that it is not just quality teaching that affects grades.

The group Mr Knight will head aims to draw up "clear proposals" to equip school governing bodies with advice for the future, which should help them do their jobs better.

In related news, the National College for School Leadership has announced this week that it is piloting a new scheme that will free-up headteachers' time by passing on some of their administrative duties to school business managers.