The purpose of the Code is to enable individual governors to have a clearer understanding of their role.
People who become school governors make a positive contribution by giving time and bringing their experience to help with the school improvement.
This Code has been agreed by the Oxfordshire Governors’ Association (OGA) and the Oxfordshire Heads’ associations (OSSHTA, OPHTA, OASSH and Nursery Head teachers)
Individual Governors should:
a) Support the aims and objectives of the school and safeguard the interests of the school and its students in the wider community;
b) Support and promote appropriate partnership and collaboration with other schools in the area. The Local Education Authority and the Diocese;
c) Work co-operatively with other governors in the best interests of the school and attend meetings of the full governing body and committees regularly;
d) Support the work of the governing body by reading paperwork relevant to their meetings and taking an active interest in the life of the school;
e) Acknowledge that differences of opinion may arise in discussion of issues, but, when a majority decision of the governing body prevails, it should be accepted. Governors should not dissociate themselves from decisions of the governing body. It is not intended that this should necessarily stifle wider debate but, dissent must not risk damaging the reputation or authority of the governing body;
f) Base his or her view on matters before the governing body on an impartial assessment of the available facts;
g) Take due account of views of parents, pupils, staff and other interested parties;
h) Acknowledge that the day-to-day management of the school and implementation of plans and policies of the governing body is the responsibility of the headteacher and other senior managers of the school;
i) Understand that an individual governor has the right, only when the Chair (or Vice Chair if the Chair is absent) and governing body have given their agreement, to make statements or express opinions on behalf of the governors.
j) Governors should be encouraged to feedback information about governing body decisions (but not individual views) to those who elected or appointed them.
k) Resist any temptation or outside pressure to use the position of governor to benefit himself or herself or other individuals or agencies;
l) Declare openly and immediately any personal conflict of interest arising from a matter before the governors or from any other aspect of governorship. (Complete a Declaration of Interest annually);
m) Respect the confidentiality of those items of business which the governing body decides from time to time should remain confidential;
n) Take or seek opportunities to enhance her or his effectiveness as a governor, through participation in training and development programmes and by increasing his or her own knowledge of the school;
o) Have regard to her or his broader responsibilities as a governor of a public institution, including the need to ensure public accountability for the actions of the governing body.