Local Associations
Representative bodies, such as governor associations or fora, within a Local Authority (LA) area, serve a valuable purpose in at least four respects:
- they provide an opportunity for governors from every school in their LA to form a professional network and share good practice from their own governing bodies and schools;
- they are a vehicle for discussion of the latest education developments in their LA / Regional Consortia (RC) and the education sector nationally;
- they are effective ‘sounding boards’ for Governors Cymru, the LA, the RC and the Welsh Government to consult on strategic and policy issues affecting schools, governance and the quality of education provision; and
- they provide a mechanism for governors to become fully engaged with officers of the LA / RC to improve school effectiveness and learner outcomes.
BLAENAU GWENT GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION
Chair – John Hill
Vice Chair – Steve Winter
BRIDGEND GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION
Chair – Thomas Beedle
Secretary and Clerk to the Association – William Bond
Who do Governors contact to attend? – William Bond
[email protected]
CAERPHILLY BOROUGH GOVERNORS NETWORK
Chair – Derek Havard
Vice Chair- Delwyn Davies
Who do Governors contact to attend? – Lewis John
[email protected]
CARDIFF GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION
Chair – Gary Beauchamp
Who do Governors contact to attend? – Ruth Lock, Governors Services, Cardiff Local Authority
[email protected]
Summary
The Cardiff Governors Association funds its own activities and programme through an annual subscription fee of £50 per school for membership of the
CGA. Subscribing schools are entitled to send governors free of charge to the annual training conference, seminars and workshops and to receive occasional papers on key issues of importance to school governors, for example the pupil deprivation grant; parental support and engagement and the like.
The advantages for school governing bodies of membership of the CGA include:
- being part of an effective vehicle expressing the views, concerns and hopes of governing bodies in Cardiff to the local authority, the Consortium and the Welsh Government
- involvement in programmes and activities which facilitate exchanges of ideas and best practice and thus help promote the development of skills and expertise in individual governors and governing bodies
- involvement, under the auspices of the CGA, in a range of activities, such as workshops, seminars, training courses, and being able to influence the proceedings and outcomes of such gatherings of governors and, by so doing, developing a more resourceful and skilful approach to school governance
To become a member of the Cardiff Governors Association and for details of its programme, please contact [email protected] for an application form.
CEREDIGION GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION
Chair – Keith Henson
Vice Chair- David Greaney
Objectives of the Forum
- To promote best practice in governance in all schools within the Ceredigion Local Authority;
- To promote partnerships amongst schools in the County and facilitate sharing of effective practices by identifying and disseminating effective governance;
- To ensure adequate resources for schools by working with stakeholders;
- To represent school governors’ view on issues relating to school governance and the management and resourcing of schools to relevant authorities and organisations.
- To equip governors with the necessary skills to robustly and consistently challenge the performance of their schools and the outcomes achieved by all learners.
Who do Governors contact to attend? Governors are elected to attend by their Governing Body. For further information contact Ceredigion Governor Support Team
[email protected]
DENBIGHSHIRE GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION
Chair – Sue Roberts
Vice Chair – vacant
Clerk to Association – Glesni, Denbighshire County Council
Summary
Denbighshire Chair of Governors Association meet once a term. Although Chairs are invited, every school may send a representative to the meeting. The Association meets in County Hall, Ruthin.
Who do Governors contact to attend? – Natalie
[email protected]
FLINTSHIRE GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION
Chair – Terry O’Marah
Clerk to Association – Kim Brookes (School Governance Manager, Flintshire County Council)
Summary
The Association of Flintshire School Governors is an independent forum for school governing bodies in Flintshire made up of a nominated representative from each school. The Association:
- Provides an opportunity for governors to form a professional network and share good practice from their own governing bodies and schools;
- is a vehicle for discussion of the latest education developments locally and nationally
- Is a ‘sounding board’ for the local authority and the Welsh Government to consult on strategic and policy issues affecting schools, governance and the quality of education provision.
GWYNEDD GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION
Chair – tbc
Clerk to Association – Meleri Mair Griffith, Assistant Education Resources Officer
Summary
The Federation normally meets once per school term. All schools within the local authority are entitled to have representatives at these meetings. The
AGM is held at the first meeting of the Autumn Term with all attending schools having a vote on
election of officers (chair, vice-chair and treasurer). At the termly meeting, standing items on the agenda include:
- Treasurer’s report
- Gwynedd School Re-organisation
- The Federation tries to have guest speakers who address current matters of interest – these are
often officers of the local authority
- Suggestions for future activities and training courses
Who do Governors contact to attend? – Meleri Mair Griffith
[email protected]
MERTHYR TYDFIL GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION
Chair – Laurence Matuszczyk
Vice Chair – Pat Lewis
Treasurer – Paul Jones
Objectives of the Association
To promote best practice in governance in all schools within Merthyr Tydfil;
- To promote partnerships amongst schools in the County Borough;
- To represent school governors’ views on issues relating to school governance and the management and resourcing of schools to relevant authorities and organisations.
How can governors be involved?
Every Governing Body of a school in Merthyr Tydfil are asked to nominate one representative (Nominated Governor) to the Association. Any governor in Merthyr Tydfil may attend meetings.
Who do Governors contact to attend? – Any of the Associations officers or Gary Winston
[email protected]
MONMOUTHSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL GOVERNORS
Chair –
Vice Chair –
Treasurer –
Clerk to Association – Sharon Randall-Smith
Summary
MASG is an independent, democratic organisation for all governing bodies in Monmouthshire. It provides a forum for expressing collective views about common concerns and makes appropriate representation at local, regional and national level, where appropriate.
Why is MASG so important to schools and governing bodies?
MASG provides governors with a collective voice, encourages co-operation and sharing of good practice between schools and governing bodies, promotes the efficient and effective governance of schools and assists governing bodies to further the interests and education of children in Monmouthshire.
MASG aims to:
- be an independent forum for school governors in Monmouthshire and to make collective governing body views known to the appropriate bodies;
- provide regular information to school governors and governing bodies on the work of MASG and encourage school governors and governing bodies to bring matters of common concern before the Association for discussion;
- act as the means of communication on relevant matters and encourage co-operation between various bodies including the Local Authority, Education Achievement Service and Welsh Government;
- encourage, in co-operation with the Local Authority and other organisations, the provision of information, research and advice on relevant matters;
- actively promote comprehensive, quality training for all governors in co-operation with outside agencies.
How can my governing body be involved?
Governing Bodies are invited each year, at their Annual General Meeting, to subscribe to
MASG and to appoint a representative (and reserve) to attend meetings as a voting member. It is the responsibility of the appointed
MASG representative to forward any issues raised by the governing body to the clerk to the Association.
Who do Governors contact to attend? – Sharon Randall-Smith
[email protected]
NEATH PORT TALBOT GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION
Chair – Arthur Davies
Summary
* Meetings are held each term with high quality Local Authority input.
- The Association holds regular meetings of their Management Committee.
- Annual conferences with speakers
- Participation in Local Authority governor training programmes
- Directors meetings with all Chairs and Vice-Chairs
NEWPORT ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL GOVERNORS
Chair – Alan Speight
Vice Chair – Irene Cameron
Clerk to Association – EAS
Summary
The Association meets on at least a termly basis. All schools who are affiliated to the Association are invited to attend. The Management Committee meets on at least a termly basis, in advance of the Association meetings. The Association acts as a “sounding board” and forum for the Local Authority.
Who do Governors contact to attend? – EAS
[email protected]
POWYS GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION
Chair – Susan Hill
Who do Governors contact to attend? – Beth Groves, Powys County Council
[email protected]
TORFAEN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL GOVERNORS – will be updated soon
Chair –
Vice Chair –
Clerk to Association – Dave Hutchings
Summary
All Torfaen Governing Bodies are entitled to send one nominated representative, appointed at their
AGM, to
TASG meetings. There is also an open invitation for other governors to attend in a non voting capacity.
Who do Governors contact to attend? – Dave Hutchings
[email protected]
