Reviews of Governance

We conduct in-house reviews of governance

• Is there unease about the effectiveness of your governance arrangements? 

• Is your school about to undergo a major structural change that will involve its governance?

• Perhaps you are a new Chair of Governors and you want to start your term of office from a firm base?

• Or do you think you are a very good governing body but want an external view prior to your next ISI inspection?

Whatever the background, AGBIS provides a tailored review service for governing bodies where an experienced AGBIS Board member and an AGBIS Executive Officer will visit your school and conduct a detailed review of your arrangements. Over thirty such reviews have been conducted in the past six years with distinct advantages for the schools concerned. The spread of schools reviewed covers the complete spectrum of the sector. Whatever your size, you will undoubtedly benefit from a review of this nature.

We have a ‘standard’ review package that is conducted in four stages:

Stage 1   The terms of reference and programme are agreed about six to eight weeks before the start of the review. The school then sends a briefing pack to the team members, who will devote a day each to preparing for the review.

Stage 2   The team visits the school for two days. The team will aim to meet the Chair, Head, Head of a Preparatory Department, Bursar, Clerk and Committee Chairs on an individual basis. Other meetings, including those with governors and senior managers, normally take place in a group setting although anyone may request an individual meeting. At the end of the visit, the Chair of Governors (and the Head if requested by the Chair) will be given a verbal de-brief on the main points.

Stage 3   A written report outlining findings and recommendations which the Governing Body might like to consider. A draft to confirm factual information will be made available in advance of the final report being issued. The final report is confidential between AGBIS and the governors, however, the latter are free to present a copy to ISI/Ofsted inspectors if they so wish. Two man days are allocated to compiling and agreeing the final report. An example of this report can be viewed on the members' area of this website.

Stage 4   A follow up one year after the review to see what recommendations have been implemented and assess the overall value of the review.

The fee for the standard package (as at June 2011) is £2,500, plus all associated travel and subsistence costs. The fee equates to £313 per man day and in terms of the average daily charge of an experienced consultant, this represents exceptional value for money. For those schools whose needs exceed the standard package the fee will be based on £2,500 plus £500 for each additional man day.

Interested and want to find out more? Then contact Nigel Noble, Training & Membership Secretary, on training@agbis.org.uk or call him on 01963 33957 to discuss in person.