Governor Development Service

Introduction

Governor Development Service (GDS) is an integral part of the School Improvement and Performance Service, which emphasises the important role that governors have in improving standards of achievement in Leicestershire schools.

The GDS team offer a high quality service which support schools in raising standards of achievement, providing the young people of the County with the best possible opportunities in life.

Please click here to find out our aims for the 2007 to 2010 period.

Aims for GDS Team

Identify governors’ needs and provide access to high quality training, advice and information to give them the confidence, skills and knowledge to offer leadership and direction to their schools/colleges.
Support governing bodies in schools causing concern.
Constantly improve our own effectiveness as a service team.

The service will:

be high quality and value for money
be flexible to meet the individual needs of schools/colleges
provide a core programme of relevant training focussed on local and national priorities
provide opportunities for whole governing body training and cluster training in your locality as well as distance and on-line learning
supply a range of written information and guidance
offer briefing sessions for Chairs, Link Governors and Clerks
give governors the opportunity to shape support services available from GDS
operate a “no cancellation” policy so that all publicised courses will be run regardless of booking numbers

How we deliver our service

GDS offer flexibility in the way in which our extensive range of services can be purchased. Our Service Level Agreement (SLA) details the cost of the three options available to your school:

Subscription
Cluster Subscription
Pay as you Go (PAYG)

By subscribing to our service, governing bodies can create a flexible training schedule to suit their own needs. Governors are able to attend as many courses as they choose. Full details of the purchase options can be found in our Service Level Agreement.

Baseline Services

Schools/colleges and governors are able to access the following services at no charge:

newsletters, briefing papers and other essential information;
termly LA meeting for Chairs of Governors;
SEN governor briefing sessions;
access to our web site: www.leics.gov.uk/index/education/support_for_schools/governors.htm;
a telephone helpline service.

In addition, as part of the LA’s statutory duties, schools/colleges receive the following support at no charge:

LA governor appointments;
a database of governing body membership;
records of Instruments of Government for individual schools/colleges;
support to establish temporary governing bodies for new schools/colleges and to establish federations of schools;
additional support to schools causing concern.

Training and support

GDS offer a comprehensive range of courses designed to assist governors in undertaking their roles and responsibilities confidently and effectively, as a result enabling governing bodies to play their full part in promoting school improvement.

Training is delivered by Governor Consultants, GDS staff in addition to utilising other departmental services in the delivery of support to governing bodies. In particular, the Children and Young Peoples Department collaborates in providing specialist training and support. Other specialist training draws on finance, personnel and special needs colleagues within the department.

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