About Govas

GOVAS works closely with the Stockport Children and Young People Directorate, but we are a fully independent association of governors affiliated to the equally independent National Governors Association. Every governor in Stockport is automatically a GOVAS member (as long as your institution pays their subscriptionof £10.00 PA)and our Management Committee is made up exclusively of serving volunteer governors in Stockport’s schools – nursery, primary secondary and special. Our biggest strength is our links with all the school governors in Stockport through our newsletter, special communications, and this website.  

 

 

Dear Governors

 

Given the current uncertainty around coronavirus, we have decided to postpone the Stockport Governor Conference planned for Saturday 28 March.

 

We will review the situation at the start of the summer term and give you an update then.

Our apologies for any inconvenience.

 

Govas

 

 

GOVAS MEETING FOR ALL GOVERNORS THURSDAY 19th SEPTEMBER 7-9pm

GOVAS had arranged a meeting open to all governors in Stockport (Published via Governorhub) to provide an early opportunity for you to meet and hear from our new interim Director of Educational Services, Steve Nyakatawa. Steve outlined his and the Council's priorities over the year ahead, with a particular emphasis on Special Educational Needs. Steve was joined by colleagues from the service, including Cathy Lyall, lead officer for SEND. <- Link to the powerpoint presented on the evening - Click Here ->

The meeting included a short GOVAS AGM.  Governors interested in joining the GOVAS committee can contact us above.

GOVAS will also be organising its annual conference in partnership with the Local Authority in March next year. Details will follow, but the anticipated date is Saturday 28th March ( 9am-1pm).

Best wishes for a successful year governing, 

 

Andy Kent ( outgoing GOVAS Chair) 

 

SCHOOLS’ FORUM

NEWSLETTER 30 – July 2019

The Schools’ Forum (an elected group of Head teachers, Principals, Governors and other associated members) is the key decision making and consultative group required by DfE regulation which oversees/governs all financial and administrative matters relating to the Schools Budget financed by the dedicated schools grant (DSG).

The roles and responsibilities of the Schools’ Forum can be found in the new short guide recently updated by the DfE in March 2015

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/schools-forums-operational-and-good-practice-guide-2015

The DfE has identified as part of their review of Schools’ Forum that effective best practice relating to Schools’ Forum and its operational duties includes communication to all the wider stakeholder audience of the business matters discussed and decisions made. (i.e. ensuring all decisions made at forum are duly recorded and shared).

To enhance communication with the wider school audience, the Local Authority will produce a brief overview newsletter of the discussions/views, decisions made and agreed actions in relation to all business matters after each meeting and distribute to stakeholders via the following means:

  • Office on-line;
  • Council’s web-site (see below link);
  • Govas web-site;
  • Schools Finance monthly newsletter; and directly
  • To all Schools’ Forum members

 

Welcome to the 30th edition of the Schools’ Forum Newsletter……..

In this issue, we are including key points from the Schools’ Forum meeting held on 11 July 2019 particularly; DFE SEND Call for Evidence consultation, 2020/21 Local Formula (Primary), DSG Review and Schools’ Forum membership. A full copy of the minutes will be made available via the Council web-site in due course, see section 8 below.

Schools’ Forum Meeting 11 July 2019 – Key Points

  1. MATTERS ARISING PREVIOUS MINUTES

Item 7 School Places – further discussions have taken place via the SMP board and additional information will hopefully be available early in the new academic year.

Item 10 DSG Review – Actions resolved and further verbal update provided (see section xx below)

Item 11 School Insurance Scheme – An update will be provided at the September 2019 meeting on the matters arising.

Item 13 SFVS – Training dates have been set up for the autumn term as below:

30 September – Annual Introduction to SFVS (New Governors/School Staff)

16 October (10am – 12 Noon 2 x 1hr sessions) – SFVS update and introduction to the new dashboard.

NEWSLETTER 29 – May 2019

Welcome to the 29th edition of the Schools’ Forum Newsletter……..

In this issue, we are including key points from the Schools’ Forum meeting held on 23 May 2019 particularly; School Places, SEN monitoring, DSG 2018/19 Outturn, 2018/19 Final School Balances, SFVS, DSG Review and School Insurance Schemes 2018/19 outturn. A full copy of the minutes will be made available via the Council web-site in due course, see section 11 below.

Schools’ Forum Meeting 23 May 2019 – Key Points

  1. MATTERS ARISING PREVIOUS MINUTES

Jon Roper (Primary HT) raised matter of published minutes not presenting a full and clear picture of the meeting discussions/debate undertaken – LA officers to feedback to democratic services.

Education Healthy Schools Capital fund:

Discussion took place in relation to LA decision making/process and final determination of how funding to be distributed – LA officers to provide further update/report on progress/final spend and address any further SF member queries raised in due course.

“School Governance in Changing Times: Threats, Challenges and Opportunities"

This took place on the 23rd of March, details on all the workshop slides - follow the links below


Keynote Speaker
Dr Tony Breslin -Author of the RSA- Royal Society of Arts ‘Who Governs Our Schools’?’

Workshops

Chairs, and governors,  may or may not be aware that the both primary and secondary Stockport headteachers' consortia are promoting "A Day of Positive Action by Stockport Schools" on Friday 12th October 2018. The aim is to highlight the impact on childrens' education of the funding pressures all schools are facing in the Borough, with Stockport continuing to be one of the lowest funded Council's for schools in England. A letter from Stockport headteachers will be in your school (copy here), and they are hoping heads will encourage parents to write to and talk to their local MP to share their views and any concerns.

GOVAS has been asked to encourage Chairs and governors to discuss the day of positive action with their headteacher and be supportive of suitable school based consideration of how to best raise the concerns about school funding,  and look further into how more funds could and would enhance the learning experiences for our children.

Andy Kent ( GOVAS CHAIR)

Last July, the secretary of the Stockport National Association of Headteachers (NAHT),Jim Nicholson, asked to meet with GOVAS representatives to share some issues about governors and governance raised by Stockport Heads over the previous twelve months. 


The context for this discussion?

Stockport NAHT concerns about: headteacher workload and work life balance ; occasionally that governors are felt to behave inappropriately, or lack commitment to or understanding of the role the governor role; the extraordinary complexity and turbulence in education  policy at a national level, with all the ensuing strains and tensions and challenges this brings to each school. (Yes, some opportunities also). To find out more about the matters raised and the GOVAS response please follow this -CLICK HERE-

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