DRAFT
The Role of the Staff Associate Member of Governance
This document should be read in conjunction with the Terms of Reference for Maple Hayes School Governance
The Staff Associate Member contributes at the strategic level and then follows through, implementing the decisions made as a member of the staff team. Sometimes, this can be a challenge and not always easy, however, the role can provide an interesting and rewarding dimension to work.
Staff Associate Members may be any employee of the school. Staff Associate Members are elected by the school staff. They cease to hold office when they cease to work at the school. Clear expectations of role and conduct should be communicated and agreed upfront. If no candidates are forthcoming, the position on the Governance Board remains vacant and an election should be held as soon as an eligible candidate is identified.
A Staff Associate Member has equal status in the responsibility they share with all members of the Governance Board to act in accordance with the Governance Terms of Reference
Staff Associate Members have:
an interest in all the children’s futures
a desire to make a difference
a willingness to accept responsibility
an ability to work in a team, ask questions, listen and learn
The role of the Staff Associate Member is to operate as part of the Governance Board to provide strategic leadership and to hold the headteacher to account. The Staff Associate Member’s role is to contribute a staff viewpoint but not to represent staff.
The Staff Associate Member does not to stand alongside the headteacher in being held to account by the Governance Board
but Note:
Staff Associate Members must withdraw and not take part in discussions relating to staff employment e.g. appraisal or pay.
Staff Associate Members cannot take part in the headteacher’s appraisal
Staff Associate Members cannot take part in any Staff Grievance
Staff Associate Members could form part of a headteacher appointment panel but would be excluded where:
there is a potential internal candidate and the Staff Associate Member would be eligible to apply for the post if the internal candidate were appointed
they know the candidate in other than a professional relationship or are directly or indirectly related to the candidate.
As an effective Staff Associate Member you follow the Code of Conduct for Governance members but more particularly with regard to your roll, you:
help maintain the Objectives and Mission of the school
help to decide the priorities for improving the school
work in partnership with the headteacher, senior leadership team and other staff to help other governors’ understanding of the working of the school
share your aims to make a difference in the interest of all the children’s futures
work as a team with the Governance Board
make yourself aware of the range of range of staff opinions and present these to the Governance Board where appropriate
prepare for meetings by reading papers beforehand
have an equal right to participate and to state your views whilst respecting the views of others
take responsibility for your own learning and development as a governor including attending training
attend full Governance Board and relevant other meetings promptly, regularly, and for the full time
read relevant briefings and newsletters for governors
promote the interests of the school in the wider community
be loyal to the decisions made by the Governance Board
report back to colleagues the decisions made by the Governance Board, when appropriate and when agreed by the Governance Board (see below)
respect the confidentiality of Governance Board affairs
declare an interest and withdraw from any meeting where you, a partner or close relative or associate stands to gain, or where you are so close to a matter discussed it is difficult to be impartial; this may include discussion of any matter relating to staff employment or consideration of parental complaints
have regard to promoting accountability for the actions and performance of the Governance Board
Working relationships
It is useful for you as a Staff Associate Member to agree with the headteacher how you will carry out your representative role. For example, to facilitate an effective working relationship between the staff and the Governance Board, staff should have access to the agendas for and the reports of governors’ meetings. There should also be opportunities for them to be discussed.
Be wary of bringing an individual issue to meetings without following the agreed procedures.
As a Staff Associate Member, you have a vital role to play in raising the awareness of the role of governors amongst colleagues. You can help to ensure that the school has a governors’ visits policy that has the support of both staff and governors and you may be able to encourage governors to take a more active part in school life, for example, by being attached to a particular class, or curriculum area or with regard to a particular aspect of the school improvement plan.
It is important to remember that Staff Associate Members and the Governance Board should not usurp the legitimate line management role of the headteacher. If there are ever concerns that cannot be resolved through discussion and negotiation, staff have recourse to the grievance procedure.
Communication and confidentiality
Staff Associate Members should feel free to express their own personal views, it being recognised that these may not necessarily be the views of the majority of staff. As a Staff Associate Member, you do not have a mandate to express any views other than your own. Remember you are not a representative of staff, although you should report in good faith any widely held staff views, even if you do not support them yourself.
The work of the Governance Board is recorded in the minutes which are circulated to all members of the Board. These minutes are confidential but a summary report of the meeting will be published. As a Staff Associate Member you may, with the agreement of the Governance Board, communicate a decision in advance of the publication of the summary report. Other matters should be remain unreported until the summary report is published.
Note - you would be breaching the confidence of the Governance Board if you reported how individuals contributed, comments made by individuals or individual discussions. But please note - you would be breaching the confidence of the Governance Board if you reported how individuals contributed, comments made by individuals or individual discussions. When reporting on decisions taken by the Governance Board you should use ‘we’ and not ‘they’ as you have contributed to that decision - even if your personal contribution was not in support of the final decision.
Term of office
You are elected by the staff as a Staff Associate Member for a term of one year.
The term of office is automatically terminated if/when you cease to be employed by the school. The Staff Associate Member is subject to the same attendance requirements as other Associate Members and if you are absent for some time (for example, on secondment, maternity or sick leave) and do not wish to resign, the Governance Board could consider inviting staff to suggest another staff member who the Governance Board could appoint.