Governor Services

Governor Services provide information, documents, training and contacts to help governing bodies operate effectively and efficiently.

Contacts in Governor Services gives you information about the members of our team
How to Become a Governor describes the role and how to apply
New Governors provides suggestions for induction of new governors
Courses for Governors lists information about the courses we run, a diary of events and details of how to book places
Handbook for Clerks contains a huge range of practical information for clerks
Governors' Toolkit (Information and Examples) contains a wide variety of practical advice, including help with planning the governors' year, organising committees, financial matters including the Financial Management Standards in Schools scheme, model standing orders, and more
Policies lists model policies which you can download
What's New describes material recently added to the site
Links and Useful Contacts list recommended websites

Index

This is not a complete list of all the contents of the Governor Services web pages, but it will help you find some of the more commonly used sections. Check the Where to find it column and then click on the section you need in the blue menu box to the left of this page.

Subject	Where to find it
Acronyms and initials	Handbook for clerks part 9
Agenda for governing body meetings	Handbook for clerks part 5
Code of conduct for governing bodies	Governors' toolkit (download)
Committees	Governors' toolkit (download)
Complaints procedure	Policies (download)
Course descriptions	Courses
Courses programme	Courses
Disability equality guidance	Policies (download)
Federation of schools guidance	Governors' toolkit (download)
Financial management (FMSiS)	Governors' toolkit (download)
Financial procedures	Governors' toolkit (download)
Gender equality guidance	Policies (download)
Helpline number	Contacts in GS - Nicky
Meetings - law and practice	Handbook for clerks 5 & 6
New governors - guidance for applicants	How to become a governor
New governors - how to apply	How to become a governor
New governors - induction booklet	New governors (download)
New governors - induction checklist	New governors (download)
News and latest information	What's new
Parent governor election	Handbook for clerks part 4
Penalty notices	Policies (download)
Policies - list of required policies	Policies
Policies - model policies	Policies
Policy review	Policies (download)
Specialist governors (literacy, SEN, etc)	Handbook for clerks part 3
Staff governor elections	Handbook for clerks part 4
Staff of governor services	Contacts in GS
Standing orders for the governing body	Governors' toolkit (download)
Year planner for governing body	Governors' toolkit (download)

The services we provide

Helpline

The Governor Services helpline is available every weekday in term time from 8.30am to 4.30pm (3pm Fridays) to answer any queries that you may have and to provide support when you need it. The helpline service may be unavailable during parts of the school holidays. The number is 01305 224156.

Courses and briefings

We run a comprehensive range of courses for new and experienced governors and termly briefings for chairs and clerks. For information about these events please refer to our courses for governors or call governor training

Publications

We produce a termly magazine called The Dorset Governor, Update newsletters for clerks twice a term, a comprehensive and constantly updated website and other occasional publications.

Governor appointment

We work with schools on the recruitment and appointment of governors and maintain up-to-date records. We can also advise how to apply to join a governing body.

Subscriptions

Our services are offered to schools through a subscription scheme or can be bought on a pay-as-you-use basis. You can find details of the scheme in the spring edition of the Dorset Governor magazine, or call us on the helpline.