Suffolk Governors' Forum
Constitution
1. Name
1.1 The organisation shall be known as the Suffolk Governors'
Forum.
2. Purpose
2.1 The purpose of the Forum is to promote the improvement of
education in Suffolk maintained schools by supporting school
governors and co-ordinating and representing their views. The Forum
shall be independent of any political party.
3. Powers and Duties
3.1 Without prejudice to the right of individual schools to be
consulted on matters that effect them, to provide a collective
means of consultation between the County Council and governors of
Suffolk schools.
3.2 To advise and support the County Council by promoting
school improvement and representing the collective views of
governing bodies.
3.3 To respond to consultations by Government, the County
Council, the National Governors’ Association and other bodies
and to make representations.
3.4 To support the County Council in implementing
3.4.1 Legislation
3.4.2 Advice and guidance from government
3.4.3 Advice and guidance from other national bodies.
3.5 To nominate representatives to the Schools Forum and
through them to advise the County Council about the annual schools
budget and other appropriate financial issues.
3.6 To advise the County Council on the services schools
require, and to help evaluate services provided by the County
Council or other bodies.
3.7 To seek opportunities to make Suffolk governors aware of
their role and to promote effective communication with them.
3.8 To promote governor training by
3.8.1 Advising on the development, content and format of
governor training activities.
3.8.2 Encouraging attendance at training courses
3.8.3 Assisting with the evaluation of governor training.
3.9 To act as a link between school governing bodies and
County Council committees, and to support Parent Governor
Representatives in their role on County Council committees.
3.10 To support the County Council in the development of an
effective school governor recruitment strategy.
3.11 To keep governing bodies regularly informed about the
work of the Forum.
4. Structure
4.1 The Forum will comprise three Area Groups and an Executive
Committee.
4.2 The Area Groups shall be constituted as follows:
North and West:
Elected - 3 primary school governors, 3 middle
school governors, 3 upper/high school governors, 1 special school
governor
Co-opted - 3 members drawn from school governors
or members of Pupil Referral Unit Management Committees, co-opted
to ensure 'best fit' with local characteristics.
South:
Elected - 3 primary school governors, 1 infant
school governor, 1 junior school governor, 4 high school governors,
1 special school governor
Co-opted - 3 members drawn from school governors
or members of Pupil Referral Unit Management Committees, co-opted
to ensure 'best fit' with local characteristics.
4.3 The Executive Committee shall be as follows:
3 representatives appointed by each Area Group drawn from their
elected membership
3 members co-opted by the Executive Committee.
5 Membership, appointment and tenure:
5.1 Elected members of the Area Groups and of the Executive
Committee must be serving members of governing bodies of Suffolk
maintained schools. Co-opted members must be either serving members
of governing bodies or of pupil referral unit management
committees. All members must resign on ceasing to be a governor or
member of a management committee.
5.2 Members of each Area Group (other than co-opted members)
shall be elected by the governing bodies of maintained schools in
the Area.
5.3 Members of the Executive Committee (other than co-opted
members) shall be appointed by the Area Groups from their elected
members. 5.4 Any serving governor may stand for election to
vacancies on their Area Group. Those wishing to do so must be
nominated by the governing body of which they are a member.
5.5 The Suffolk Director for Children and Young People, or his
or her nominee, adhering to the principles used by the Electoral
Reform Society, shall make whatever arrangements are necessary to
ensure the election of members of the Area Groups. 5.6 Elected
members to the Area Groups shall normally serve for three years,
commencing on 1st September following their election. One-third of
the elected members of each Area Group shall retire each year.
Co-opted members shall normally serve for three years commencing on
the first of the month following co-option.
5.7 Casual vacancies of elected places may be filled
temporarily by co-option until the subsequent 1st September when an
elected member will take over.
5.8 The normal term of office of members of the Executive
Committee, whether appointed by Area Groups or co-opted, shall be
three years. Members appointed by Area Groups shall cease
membership of the Committee if they are no longer elected members
of their Area Group or if their Area Group decides to replace them.
Members may serve several consecutive periods of office.
5.9 Membership of the Executive Committee and Area Groups will
cease following absence from all meetings in a six-month period.
6 Meetings and conduct of business
6.1 Each Area Group and the Executive Committee shall elect a
Chair and Vice-chair annually at the first meeting on or after 1st
September. Any member shall be eligible to serve as Chair for a
maximum of two consecutive terms but will be ineligible to stand
for election as Chair for one year thereafter.
6.2 Area Groups and the Executive Committee will meet at least
once per term. A schedule of meetings will be produced each spring
term for the following year.
6.3 The County Council will provide the secretariat and
appoint a lead officer to support the work of each Area Group and
the Executive Committee. The lead officer will produce an agenda
for each meeting in consultation with and agreement by the Chair
and will prepare and distribute minutes.
6.4 If any member of an Area Group or of the Executive
Committee wishes to place items on an agenda, he or she shall
obtain the agreement of the respective Chair not less than two
weeks before the date of the meeting.
6.5 The quorum for all meetings will be one-third of those
entitled to attend (rounded up as necessary).
6.6 Minutes of all Area Group and Executive Committee meetings
shall be made available to the Chairs of all Suffolk governing
bodies (according to area).
6.7 In carrying out its work, the Forum shall make maximum use
of electronic rather than paper-based communication.
6.8 The Forum will hold an Annual General Meeting during the
summer term which shall be open to one representative from each
school governing body. The purpose of the meeting shall be to
consider the Annual Report of the Forum and to debate motions
submitted by individual governing bodies. Such motions must be
received by the Secretary at least two weeks before the date of the
Meeting.
7. National Governors’ Council
7.1 The Forum shall be a member of the National Governors'
Council.
7.2 The County Council shall fund governing body subscriptions
towards the annual fee in respect of membership of the National
Governors' Council.
8. Member Expenses
8.1 The County Council shall reimburse such expenses in
respect of travel, subsistence and childcare incurred and claimed
by Area Group and Executive Committee members as the Council shall
determine.
9. Review of Constitution
9.1 The Executive Committee shall keep the Forum’s
Constitution under review and may from time to time make changes
after consultation with the Area Groups and Suffolk governing
bodies.
10. Dissolution
10.1 The Forum may be dissolved by decision of the Annual
General Meeting, provided a motion proposing dissolution has been
submitted to the Secretary by not less than one third of Suffolk
governing bodies at least one calendar month before the date of the
meeting.