Board Operations
Proper governance requires a school’s ‘responsible persons’ to have in place structures, policies and procedures for governance, leadership, authority, decision-making accountability and transparency. This eight hour course helps ‘responsible persons’ understand and implement effective board operations within the context of each school’s distinctive philosophy and traditions, its framework of governance, and the NESA Requirements for Proper Governance.
Content covered includes the Board-Head relationship, overseeing the Head, engagement with the Head, board engagement with the community, board composition and succession, board meetings and dynamics, evaluating the board, and notifying NESA. Understandings of effective board operations are developed through hypothetical case studies.
This course is designed to help ‘responsible persons’ [as defined under Section 47(1)(b) of the Education Act in New South Wales] understand and implement sound policies and ongoing procedures for effective governance in ways that comply with the NESA requirements upon school boards. Specifically, the course is designed to provide in-depth appreciation and practical application of ways in which ‘responsible persons’ can work together to enhance their board operations to ensure (a) effective implementation of established principles of ‘best practice’ in school governance and (b) compliance with relevant NESA requirements in the area of board operations. Furthermore, the course provides opportunities through discussion and problem-solving for ‘responsible persons’ to build unity of understanding, a common purpose, and a commitment to implementing ‘best practices’ for effective school governance in a strategic manner that enhances the school’s outcomes. While the emphasis of the course is addressing ongoing professional learning needs, it is also highly suitable as a component of the induction of new ‘responsible persons’.
8 hours, either in a single block or split into two four hour sessions on different days.
Face-to-face workshop with all the ‘responsible persons’ in one group, usually delivered at the school or at another suitable venue organised by the school.
Who are the ‘responsible persons’?
Why is professional learning required?
Evidence of compliance with NESA sections 3.9.1 and 3.9.2.
The Board-Head relationship
Overseeing the Head
Engagement with the Head
Board engagement with the community
Board composition and Succession
Board meetings and dynamics
Evaluating the Board
Hypothetical case study of effective board operations
Notifying NESA
Best Practice self-evaluations of each theme throughout the course
This course covers the following governance requirements as outlined in the Registered and Accredited Individual Non-government Schools (NSW) Manual (September 2019):
3.9.1; 3.9.2; 3.9.3.1-A; 3.9.3.1-B; 3.9.3.1-C; 3.9.3.1-E; 3.9.3.1-G; 3.9.3.2; 3.9.3.5; 3.9.5.
Upon successful completion of the course, a signed certificate is issued to the school stating the name of the course, the content covered, the duration of the course, the venue, and the names of those persons who attended. Upon request, schools may instead request an individual certificate for each attendee. Participating schools also receive a password-protected PDF copy of the presentation slides used during the workshop for the use of attendees.
We are a NESA approved and accredited training provider of courses relating to proper governance in non-government schools.
D2015/35965 – D2019/8657 – D2019/23247 - – D2019/134103
