Need to know: Governing board essentials for the autumn term

Get up to speed with important education news and key topics likely to be on your board’s agenda over the coming weeks. Read on to find guidance and resources to help you prepare.

Blog

12/09/2024

Changes to Ofsted inspection

The start of the academic year sees significant changes to Ofsted inspection in the wake of the Big Listen. This includes the government's decision to scrap single headline judgements this autumn, to be replaced by new report cards in September 2025 that will aim to put more of a focus on outcomes, safeguarding and the local context.

As part of a pilot approach, headteachers will now receive ‘the call’ notifying them of an inspection on a Monday, with inspections to start on a Tuesday, in a bid to reduce the anxiety of waiting for notification.

Ofsted also recognised the need to make changes to how safeguarding is inspected. A new pilot will mean that, in some cases, schools can be given 3 months to resolve safeguarding issues before inspectors revisit the school. This will only happen if the school is doing well in all other respects and leaders have the capacity to resolve the issues identified.

These changes mark the beginning of Ofsted’s wide-ranging improvement plans which extend to creating a reformed inspection framework. Our guide to Ofsted inspection provides further details on recent changes.

Keeping Children Safe in Education 2024

Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSiE) 2024 is now in force. It contains updates that boards should be aware of, including:

An updated safeguarding definition, placing an emphasis on early help and support and reflecting the duties set out in the multi-agency guidance Working together to safeguard children 2023.
Additional indicators of the potential need for early help, including pupils who have experienced multiple suspensions and are at risk of permanent exclusion.
Clarification that where a school places a pupil with an alternative provision provider, it continues to be responsible for safeguarding that pupil.

KCSiE is statutory guidance that all governors and trustees need to read. Our safeguarding guidance for governing boards provides further details on KCSiE updates and explains how to meet your safeguarding responsibilities.

All governors and trustees must also receive appropriate safeguarding and child protection training (that includes online safety). We recommend that boards complete safeguarding training on an annual basis which should be tailored to governance and so distinct from training completed by school staff.

Attendance guidance now statutory

Department for Education (DfE) Working together to improve school attendance guidance became statutory in August 2024. We’ve worked with the DfE to produce our guide to improving attendance which takes account of the latest expectations for schools and governing boards.

Whilst the DfE’s guidance doesn’t bring about significant changes to governance responsibilities, updates include:

An emphasis on working in partnership with families to improve attendance, including meetings with pupils and parents to agree on actions and make referrals to services and organisations where appropriate.
New absence thresholds where schools will have to consider a penalty notice – from September 2024, schools must consider a penalty notice where a pupil has ten sessions of unauthorised absence in a rolling period of 10 school weeks.
Considerations for pupils absent due to mental or physical ill health or their special educational needs and/or disabilities to ensure that additional support is given where needed.
Clear expectations for Senior Attendance Champions – a senior member of school staff appointed to set a vision for improving attendance.
A requirement for schools to share daily attendance data (most already do)

For trustees: Academy Trust Handbook 2024

The latest version of the handbook was released in August and provides essential guidance for academy trusts on financial management, governance, and accountability. For all trusts, compliance with the Academy Trust Handbook is a condition of their funding agreement and it therefore remains one of the most important documents that trustees need to consult.

This year’s update includes minimal changes that will affect how trusts operate day-to-day. However, there are notable updates on internal scrutiny expectations, finance leases and intervention powers relating to estate management.

Read our summary of changes to the Academy Trust Handbook 2024 to learn more.

Getting executive performance management right

Conducting headteacher or CEO performance management is a vital element of the governing board’s role. But striking the right balance between monitoring progress, supporting professional development and maintaining healthy working relationships can be challenging.

Our upcoming webinar will set out how to ensure an impactful performance management process and annual appraisal, including pay awards.

NGA consultants can be commissioned to act as an external advisor to the board. The consultants will familiarise themselves with your policy and practice and advise you in line with our performance management and pay guidance.

Education and Skills Funding Agency to integrate into DfE

Earlier this week, the government announced that the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) will be integrated into the core DfE by March next year.

The transition will begin on 1 October when ESFA’s financial support and oversight functions will transfer, initially under the remit of regional directors and moving to new regional improvement teams by January. The processing and allocation of funding will continue as usual until the end of the financial year before transitioning into the DfE.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson MP explained that the aim is to “provide a single seamless voice to schools and ensure that financial improvement is central to school improvement”.