Agenda item

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

The Board received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services that provided Members with an update on the skills audit which the Education Unit had asked all Chairmen of Governors to complete, information about the training programme that was being developed for Governors, and the opportunities for collaboration that were agreed at the recent Headteachers’ Forum.

The Director of Community and Children’s Services advised Members that the skills audit had not received as many responses as anticipated. He added that the skills audit was an important initiative as it demonstrated the need for Governors to be trained and be aware of the skills required to belong to a Board of Governors. A member of the Board added that group training for Governors had proved useful at his School as it provided a good opportunity for knowledge-sharing.

Members were also advised that the Nominations Working Group of the Education Board had agreed a skills audit form to be completed by all Members of the Education Board.

In response to a Member’s question, the Board were advised Ofsted had been due to take over responsibility for the inspection of Association of Independent schools from the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI). However, this change had not been finalised.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.