Every School a Good School
Every School a Good School – The Governors Role
“Every School a Good School – The Governors Role” is a DE reference guide outlining the roles and responsibilities of school boards of governors.
It provides school governors with access to key information on a variety of school management issues relating to a range of their responsibilities.
Although the range of responsibilities within the guide is significant, governors do not need to be experts to manage them. Help and advice is available from various sources including the school principal, the EA, Catholic Council for Maintained Schools (CCMS), Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE), Governing Body Association (GBA), Controlled Schools Support Council (CSSC) and Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta (CnaG).
The Governor Guide is available to download from the DE Website along with the Every School a Good School Policy document.
Schemes of Management
Every school must have a Scheme of Management approved by the Department of Education.
Schemes of Management provide for:
- The membership and procedure of the Board of Governors;
- The management of each such school;
- The functions to be exercised in relation to each such school by the Board of Governors, committees of the board of governors and the principal;
- Such other matters as are required or authorised by the Education Authority.
School Governor Training
The EA Learning Portal Area for School Governors contains a series of online learning opportunities.
Your account lets you access all your documents, videos, discussions and any communications from one easy place.
Links and login information is contained in the Board of Governor Training Programme which is available from your Principal.
If you experience any problems please email govtraining@eani.org.uk
The links below can be used to view the current opportunities and useful information for new governors:
The Nolan Principles
The Nolan principles are seven rules that describe how people in public office should behave and the ethical standards they should uphold. They apply to all school governors because they apply to anyone elected or appointed to public office.
They are named after Lord Nolan who chaired a committee in 1995 which examined standards in public office. All governors should accept the Nolan principles, which are also known as the “seven principles of public life”.
Selflessness
Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.
Integrity
Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.
Objectivity
Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.
Accountability
Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.
Openness
Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.
Honesty
Holders of public office should be truthful.
Leadership
Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour and treat others with respect. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.
School Management Polices and Guidance
Safeguarding & Child Protection for Governors
Transformation to Controlled Integrated Status
Transformation to Controlled Integrated Status Governor guide to Membership and Scheme of Management
The Education Authority (EA) has a statutory duty to encourage, facilitate and support integrated education. Therefore, EA will advise schools interested in transformation across a range of operational areas including governance. Should a school transform to become a Controlled Integrated School, EA will support the constitution of the new Board of Governors.
Below are some frequently asked questions in relation to the constitution of a Board of Governors for a newly transformed Controlled Integrated School.
Constitution of a Controlled Integrated School’s Board of Governors
What support will the EA School Governance Service provide to a school transforming to Controlled Integrated status?
Once a school’s Development Proposal is agreed, an officer from the School Governance Service will be assigned to assist and advise the school in the constitution of their new board.
When can a school begin to constitute their Board of Governors?
“Legal changes such as reconstituting the Board of Governors must not happen until the Development Proposal is approved” as per ‘INTEGRATION WORKS TRANSFORMING YOUR SCHOOL’ - Department of Education 2017 (Pg. 18).
The process of preparing to constitute a new board can begin once the Development Proposal is approved, with the aim of having the new board in place by the official date on which the school transforms to controlled integrated status or as soon as possible thereafter.
What is the composition of the Board of Governors of a Controlled Integrated school?
The Board of Governors will be constituted to reflect the membership required by law of a Controlled Integrated school. The table below sets out the required membership of a Controlled Integrated Board of Governors by category. The table does not include membership of the principal (who will normally serve as secretary to the board) and any co-opted governors.
Membership of Boards of Governors of Controlled Integrated Nursery, Primary and Post Primary Schools
|
No. of governors on Board |
Foundation governors |
EA governors |
DE governors |
Parent governors |
Teacher governors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
14 |
2 Transferors 2 Trustees |
4 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
|
21 |
3 Transferors 3 Trustees |
6 |
0 |
6 |
3 |
What is the legal basis for the appointment of each category of governor?
The legal basis of the composition of the Board of Governors of a Controlled Integrated school is set out in the Education Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 1989.
Summary of Governor Appointment Procedures as set out in the Education Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 1989
| Category of Governor | Process |
| EA | Potential governors complete and submit form to EA. Application considered through EA selection process. Apply to become a Governor | Education Authority Northern Ireland (eani.org.uk) |
| Parent | School organises process - School advises EA of elected parent governors using the Outcome of Parent Governor Election form. Election of Parent and Teacher Governors | Education Authority Northern Ireland (eani.org.uk) |
| Teacher | School organises process - School advises EA of elected teacher governors using the Outcome of Teacher Governor Election form. Election of Parent and Teacher Governors | Education Authority Northern Ireland (eani.org.uk) |
| Transferor | Primary Controlled Integrated Schools: Schools transforming from Controlled status - EA will seek nominations for transferor positions. Schools transforming from Maintained status - EA will appoint EA transferors. Potential governors complete and submit form to EA. Application considered through EA selection process. Post-Primary Controlled Integrated Schools: Elected from among the transferor governors nominated to feeder controlled primary schools (including controlled integrated primary schools) in the locality served by the school. Schools organise the process in liaison with the School Governance Service. |
Trustee
| EA will seek nominations from the Catholic Schools Trustee Service (CSTS). Where the nominator is not in a position to nominate, EA will welcome applications from potential governors to be considered through the EA selection process. |
Membership of the Board of Governors is official once the Declaration of Acceptance of Membership Form has been signed and received by EA.
What input can a school have regarding the appointment of EA Governors?
Schools should consider skills they may particularly wish potential governors to have, and this can be highlighted to EA to inform the process of appointment through the completion of the Board of Governors Skills Analysis form.
The school may also encourage or invite individuals with specific competencies or skills to apply to be considered as EA governors.
Can current governors stay in post?
No, the current governors were appointed to serve on the Board of Governors of a school that is transforming to become a Controlled Integrated school. On the proposed implementation date, the school effectively becomes a new school and therefore the newly constituted Board of Governors must be in place on the implementation date or as soon as possible thereafter.
Can current governors apply to become governors in the new school?
Yes, if the applicant is a current governor this can be stated on the application form. Applicants can also state their preference for the school and their desire to continue to support the school in its new form.
Current governors in other roles (transferor/trustee/parent/Department of Education) may wish to apply to become an EA governor. Teacher governors cannot apply to become EA governors in a school in which they teach.
The New Board of Governors in Operation
Do newly transformed schools need to publicise the composition of their Board of Governors?
Yes. The new structure for the Board of Governors should be included in the school prospectus. The make-up of a Board of Governors is set out in Schedule 4 to the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) 1986 Order as amended by Article 89 of the Education Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 and Schedule 5 to the Education (Northern Ireland) 1998 Order. (Pg.21 ‘INTEGRATION WORKS TRANSFORMING YOUR SCHOOL’ Department of Education 2017).
Which Scheme of Management will a transformed school operate under?
Newly transformed Controlled Integrated schools will operate under the ‘Scheme for the Management of Controlled Schools’.
Scheme of Management | Education Authority Northern Ireland (eani.org.uk)
What policies and procedures does a Controlled Integrated school operate under?
A Controlled Integrated school will operate using the same policies and procedures as any other controlled school.
What training can a Board of Governors of a Controlled Integrated school access?
The EA Learning Portal Area for governors contains a series of online learning opportunities to support governors in their various roles. An induction course for new governors is available as well as a specific course entitled Governors New to Integrated Education created by EA and NICIE. These and a variety of other courses can be accessed through the School Governor Training Portal Governor Training & Resources | Education Authority Northern Ireland (eani.org.uk)
Additional training needs may be facilitated through EA Sectoral Support.
Data Protection for School Governors
For more information see our Data Protection Training and awareness for schools section.
Do you wish to join the EA Governor Network?
By joining you may be contacted to take part in surveys, webinars and focus groups on issues that affect school governors. You do not have to take part and may only wish to contribute when it is of something of interest to you. If you would like to join, please log your details using the form below.