A key role for the chair is to ensure that meetings are business like and run smoothly, so building a good working relationship with your clerk is very important.
Chairing a meeting is a skill, and a good chair will be prepared well in advance.
A good chair will work closely with the headteacher and clerk to ensure that:
- meetings are scheduled to link with the school improvement planning cycle so important judgements and decisions are made at the right time
- agenda items are focussed on strategic school improvement issues. Please see our spring, summer and autumn term model agendas
- all papers are circulated at least seven days before the meeting and are not tabled at the meeting
- all governors are encouraged to participate in discussion, all views are heard and respected and the governing body acts corporately
- decision-making processes are clear and decisions are accurately recorded in the minutes; you need to make sure the meeting is quorate
- the governing body makes a decision about whether an item is confidential and the agenda and minutes indicate this
Even where there are good working relationships and good teamwork, the best planned meetings do not always run smoothly. Conflict can be an inevitable part of decision-making, but research shows that teams that do not always agree make better decisions and achieve more than those who are always in agreement. Be a good listener and reflect on ways of dealing with difficult people and situations which calm things down and enable you to resolve conflict.
You will find a useful model describing approaches to reducing tension on the
GEL website.
As a new chair, this is a good time to review the effectiveness of your current governing body structure. Ask yourself:
- if your governing body is a good size
- if the committee structure in your governing body works well
- if working parties could occasionally be used to take on specific tasks