The Governor Support and Development Team based at Guildhall provides training, advice, information and resources in a number of ways, including:
- day-time telephone contact
- training courses - visit the Shropshire Learning Gateway to view all courses on offer
- regular termly meetings with chairs of governors and the Shropshire School Governors' Council (SSGC) link governors
- newsletters.
Many local companies encourage employees to become governors and allow time off with pay, although this is not a legal requirement. In any event, school governors are covered by the provisions of the Employee Protection Act which grants employees reasonable unpaid time off for public duties.
The Local Authority places great emphasis on the importance of governor training and with this in mind the Governor Support and Development Team facilitates training and development opportunities for all governors and encourages governing bodies to participate in learning activities.
A yearly programme of courses that respond to national and local initiatives is always on offer to help governors plan their participation in advance.
Training models
Central Programme
Participation in any of the county-wide courses. You will find details of all the courses available to governors on the Shropshire Learning Gateway.
Whole School Governing Body
This can be delivered at school to address the school's priorities, as well as help governors' to respond to national and local initiatives or government requirements.
Clustering
Participation in school-based training on a specific topic, and clustering with schools in certain areas.
On-line training
A subscription to Modern Governor is offered to governing bodies through the Governor Support and Development Team, which provides access to on-line training using interactive and engaging scenario-based material. A link to their website www.moderngovernor.com can be found on this page.
Other courses
In addition, the Diocese of Shrewsbury Education Service (Catholic) Schools, the Lichfield Diocese and the Hereford Diocesan Board of Education invite headteachers and governors to relevant courses. The Local Authority/Shropshire School Governor Council consultation and briefing meetings which are held termly provide a discussion forum on matters of mutual interest to both governors and the council.
Good governing bodies don't just happen!
The identification and coordination of learning and development priorities for governors is important. For this reason each governing body is encouraged to appoint one of its members as a coordinator for governor training. To help the coordinator keep a record of the training received by each governor, the Governor Support and Development Team has devised a form called report to governing body on governor training session which can be found on the Shropshire Learning Gateway.
Although governors have important responsibilities, they carry them as part of a team, not as individuals. Advice is always available. So if you would like to join the 2,300-plus governors in Shropshire Council-maintained schools and help shape the education of children, please contact us via the details on this page.