Barnsley school governors conference

The conference theme will reflect our “every child in school every day” strategic plan, which focuses on the following four key priorities:

• Attendance
• SEND
• EHE 
• Inclusion 

Costs for the conference are fully subsidised. To book your place on this event please email: admin-governorsservices@barnsley.gov.uk

Considering academy status - LA maintained school governors

Facing a key decision for your school's future? This workshop is designed to provide governors of LA maintained schools with the essential knowledge and clarity needed to navigate the complex landscape of academisation.

You’ll gain the critical insights to:

• master the latest government and Local Authority guidance on academisation, including innovative Trust Partnerships ("try before you buy").
• identify the key differences between small local MATs and large regional/national MATs, and determine what this means for your school’s future.
• understand exactly how governance changes in a MAT structure, including the distinct roles of Members, Trustees, and Local Committees.

We'll also introduce and emphasise the key questions provided by Barnsley Local Authority Governor Services, which are essential to underpinning robust due diligence. We will equip you to:

• conduct thorough due diligence across every critical area: finance, governance, culture, staff, and pupils.
• avoid the common pitfalls that schools regret, such as rushed decisions, poor communication, and the loss of school identity.
• engage key stakeholders and protect the unique culture that makes your school special.

This session will empower you to make an informed, confident decision that puts your school's best interests first.

Finance for LA maintained schools: comprehensive understanding of the schools financial value standard (SFVS)

Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the Schools Financial Value Standard (SFVS).

SFVS is a crucial tool that helps schools demonstrate their financial efficiency and transparency. In this session, participants will learn the key components of SFVS. They'll learn how to interpret and use financial data effectively, and how to ensure their school's financial practices meet the required standards. The training will empower governors to make informed decisions and contribute to sound financial management.

Audience

All governors in LA maintained schools.

Led by

Victoria Harrison

Governors roles and responsibilities - effective financial management

This course will provide you with expert guidance to enable you to make effective decisions based upon sound financial knowledge and ensure that you can support the effective financial management of the school in line with relevant legislation and local arrangements.

The course will cover budget monitoring, reviewing, projections and forecasting.  

Led by

Victoria Harrison, Chief Operations Officer, Finance

Venue

HCAT Offices, Dodworth, Barnsley. We ask you to arrive from 5:30pm onwards, so that you have time to get a hot drink and to enable the session to start promptly at 6pm.

Book your place via email: admin-governorsservices@barnsley.gov.uk

Governor workshop - effective governance in practice

Ready to elevate your impact and move beyond the fundamentals? This session is designed for experienced governors who are ready to tackle the nuances of truly effective governance.

Through dynamic, interactive case studies and advanced peer-to-peer discussion, you’ll not just discuss governance theory—you'll apply it. Join us to challenge your assumptions, sharpen your strategic insights, and engage with fellow governors in a space built for growth.

Our aim is to help you transition from simply being a "good" governor to a truly effective one, capable of driving positive strategic change and ensuring your school's long-term success.

Handling complaints

This course will look at the headteacher's and governing board's relative roles and powers when handling both 'informal' and 'formal' complaints. These complaints may be from parents or other members of the community.

The session will look at effective practice in the early stages. This is to ensure that complaints are handled appropriately in order that they're resolved satisfactorily.

Aims and objectives

• To know what constitutes a complaint.
• To know how to deal with complaints on an informal basis.
• To be familiar with Barnsley Council's model complaints procedure and the role of governors within this.
• To understand the role of the investigating officer for the governing board (stage 1).
• To understand the role of the governing board complaints panel (stage 2).

Audience

All governors

Led by

Peter Bell, School Governance and Alliance Board Service Manager

Health and safety

By the end of the training session governors will have a greater understanding of health and safety legislation, specifically in relation to the roles of the employer/employee, the roles and responsibilities of the governors and that of the headteacher.

Aims and objectives

The training and discussion will clarify roles and responsibilities of the school governing body in relation to the current legal requirements of the management of health and safety.

Governors will understand their role in the implementation of a safety management system, whether this be one required by the local authority or the academy trust. They'll appreciate the importance of monitoring health and safety performance with a view to enabling continuous improvement.

Audience

All governors

Led by

Chloe Kelly, Barnsley Council Health and Safety Advisor

Induction - a workshop for maintained school governors

Ready to make a real impact on your school's future? This practical and supportive workshop is your essential guide to becoming an effective governor. Designed specifically for new governors in Barnsley's maintained schools, this session will give you the confidence and practical knowledge you need to hit the ground running.

You’ll leave with the tools to:

• understand your core role and key responsibilities, so you can contribute with confidence from day one.
• master the three core functions of governance that drive school improvement and long-term success.
• build strong working relationships with the headteacher, the local authority, and other key people, creating a foundation for effective collaboration.

We’ll show you how to:

• set the strategic direction for the school's success and shape its vision.
• effectively hold the headteacher to account for providing an excellent education for all pupils.
• ensure school finances are managed effectively, so every penny is used to benefit the students.

Join us to connect with other new governors, get practical, actionable advice, and leave ready to make a significant difference in your school community.

New and aspiring chairs - leading your governing body to excellence 

Ready to move beyond governance and lead with purpose? This workshop is your essential guide to becoming a truly effective chair. Designed for new chairs in maintained schools and local committees within multi-academy trusts, this session will give you the confidence and strategic insights you need to excel in your pivotal leadership role.

You’ll gain the practical wisdom to:

• define your unique strategic leadership role, clearly distinguishing it from operational management.
• forge powerful partnerships with your headteacher/principal and clerk, creating a foundation of trust and shared vision.
• master the art of agenda setting, ensuring every meeting is focused, productive, and aligned with the right priorities.

We’ll show you how to:

• steer your governance body to fulfil its three core functions, from setting strategic direction to holding school leaders to account and ensuring financial probity.
• run focused, productive meetings that drive genuine school improvement, not just compliance.
• ensure every discussion and decision aligns with statutory/trust requirements and your school’s long-term vision.

Join us to connect with other chairs, gain proven leadership strategies, and leave ready to shape your school’s future and make a lasting, positive impact on its community.

Safeguarding for governors

As a governing body, you have overall responsibility for safeguarding.

Governing bodies should make sure all governors receive appropriate safeguarding and child protection training. This training should provide governors with the knowledge they need to:

• provide sufficient challenge
• assure themselves that policies and procedures are effective
• ensure there's a whole-school approach to safeguarding in place

Keeping children safe in education guidance

Keeping children safe in education is statutory guidance from the Department for Education issued under Section 175 of the Education Act 2002. Schools and colleges in England must have regard to it when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. This statutory guidance should be read and followed by governing bodies of maintained schools (including maintained nursery schools) and colleges which includes providers of post-16 education as set out in the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (as amended): 16-19 Academies, Special Post-16 institutions and Independent Training Providers.

Aims and objectives

• Define safeguarding and consider the role of the governor.
• Recognise safeguarding legislation, guidance and inspection criteria for Education.
• Recognise vulnerable groups and consider current issues including Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment/Online Safety/Safer Working Practices.
• Reflect on issues and lessons learnt for Education in Serious Cases.
• Consider culture and how to ‘temperature check' your setting in relation to safeguarding responsibilities.

Audience

All governors. (Governors should do this course every two years. Annual updates to the Keeping children safe in education guidance can be found on GOV.UK, which highlights any changes from the previous version.)

Led by

Vicki Maybin, Safeguarding Advisor for Education, Wakefield Safeguarding Children Partnership

Venue

HCAT Offices, Dodworth, Barnsley. Please ensure that you arrive at 5pm to ensure a prompt start at 5:30pm

SEND – the role of the governor

The law requires governing boards to use their ‘best endeavours' (do everything they can) to ensure that pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) get the support they need.

Statutory guidance, the SEND code of practice, is clear that boards should appoint a link governor/trustee to lead on the board's monitoring of support for pupils with SEND.
In practice, SEND link governors and trustees should work closely with the special educational needs coordinator (SENCO) in their school or trust.

Aims and objectives

• This will be a chance for you to understand how the Code of Practice provides statutory guidance on duties, policies and procedures relating to Part 3 of the Children and Families Act 2014 and associated regulations. It relates to children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) and disabled children and young people.
• You will learn how your role as SEND Governor should be carried out and develop understanding of the 4 broad areas of need.
• There will be opportunities to understand more about the context of the local area and to examine local data sets including academic outcomes.

Led by

Bev Bradley (SEND Improvement Service Manager)

Suspension and exclusion - the role of the governor

This session provides governors with an overview and understanding of the guidance and legislation in relation to suspension and exclusion. It will show the important role governors play in making sure the process is correctly followed and schools are doing all they can to prevent suspensions and exclusions.

Audience

School governors

Led by

Jane Allen Service Manager Education Welfare and Pupil Inclusion

The graduated approach and the importance of early identification

Barnsley has the highest number of suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Most of these can be related back to SEND and/or unmet/unidentified need. This session will explore how early identification of SEN is key to meeting the needs of children at the earliest opportunity. We will explore the role of all staff and the support that is available through the local authority and wider networks.

Aims and objectives

The session will cover:

• the current landscape of SEND nationally and locally
• what the graduated approach is
• how schools should use documentation to support evidencing progress towards outcomes
• identifying and meeting the needs of children at the earliest opportunity
• overcoming barriers and understanding challenges
• support available

Audience

All governors

Led by

Bev Bradley (SEND Improvement Service Manager)