Stockport Governor Association

Publication of the White Paper 'Your child, your schools, our future: building a 21st century schools system' – A brief overview

This eagerly awaited White Paper was published on 30 June and sets out the government's vision for educating all our young people to give them every chance of success in adult life in the 21st Century

Key themes include: a new report card which will give parents clear information about each school's performance, clarification of the role of the Local Authority in school improvement and performance management, reforming school funding to enable schools to support better partnership working, increased legislative powers for the Secretary of State to intervene where schools are recognised to be under performing and support for school improvement for school partnerships, for instance, through Children's Trusts. .
The paper acknowledges the vital role governors play in holding the school's leadership to account for the performance of the school. There is an intention to improve governor training and an expectation that Chairs will undertake specific training for their role. Greater flexibility around the composition of governing bodies is also to be reviewed.

The format and timing of the introduction of these changes are not clear but I am delighted that your governor's role is recognised as being important to the success of our schools. On a further positive note I am happy to say that we have already addressed the need for specific training for Chairs of Governors and we look forward to welcoming our next cohort onto the training programme in January 2010.

If you would like to read the full summary of the report it can be accessed at www.teachernet.gov.uk/publications

STOP PRESS
The following figures and announcement have recently been released by the LA to all Secondary Chairs:
5+ A*-C (En/Ma) 55.3% - increase of 3.6% points on 2008
5+ A*-C 68.9% - increase of 4.5% points on 2008
These are excellent results and Andrew Webb, along with the School Improvement Team, would like to congratulate yourselves and your headteachers, staff and youngsters for all the hard work which has resulted in another record-breaking year.