School Visits by Governors Policy

Revision History
Version Date Comments
Review Date
1 September 2005 First draft
2 December 2005 Approved and issued December 2006
3 December 2006 Approved and issued December 2007
4 September 2008 Approved and issued (no amendments) September 2010
5 July 2010 Approved and issued (no amendments) June 2012
6 Summer 2012 Approved and issued (no amendments) Summer 2014

This document aims to give guidelines to governors and staff on the purpose and process of school visits. Governing Bodies are responsible for promoting effective learning within the school. Some Governors are linked to main areas of the curriculum and through visits and discussions the whole governing body will be better informed. Planned and focused Governors visits contribute significantly to the more informed decision making by the Governing Body.

1. Formal Visits – Purpose
– To consider the plans to delivering a subject across the whole school especially linked to the SDP.
– To discuss with staff and pupils particular subject areas.
– To gain knowledge how a subject is taught.

2. Informal Visits – Purpose
– To become more familiar with school life and be part of the school community.
– To help in the classroom.

Each of the above type of visit is equally valued. The aim is for a mix of both types of visits with as many governors as possible participating in visit.

3. Procedures and Responsibilities
1. Governors should be CRB checked.
2. Governors should familiarise themselves with supporting documents beforehand.
3. Visits will be arranged through the Headteacher.
4. As a matter of course any information that governors are planning to feedback to the governing body should in the first instance be discussed with the member of staff involved in the visit. Any written report should be shared with the Headteacher before presentation to the governing body.
5. A feedback form should be completed for all formal visits (Annexe A). General observations from informal visits including feedback from children, staff and parents could form the basis of an oral presentation to the governing body.

Both types of visits require levels of confidentiality to be agreed and any class rules observed.