The role and development of School Boards

SSBA 10 year questionnaire

Results and analysis – March 2002

Throughout the past ten years since SSBA was set up we have issued various questionnaires to members to ascertain their views on various subjects. In this, our tenth anniversary year, we have revisited some of the issues to see if School Board opinion has changed.

The Association received 541 responses. The responses represented views gathered from all 32 Local Authorities.

Several of the respondents stated that although they were new members of School Boards they had found the questionnaire useful. It had encouraged them to find out more about their role as a School Board member.

Local Authorities running education

At the time of local government reform SSBA asked its members if schools should be run by local authorities with an Education Committee dealing solely with education and a Director of Education with a background in education.

• In 1996 98% of School Boards stated that they were in favour of this scenario.
• In 2002, for most of the authorities, this figure has fallen to 88% for school being run by local authorities and 92% for a committee and Director of Education dealing solely with education.
• However, for Moray, Dundee and Fife the figure is even lower at between 50 – 70%.
• The authorities most happy with education under the present management are Dumfries and Galloway, Glasgow, and Inverclyde.

Functions of the School Board

• 55% of respondents said they had difficulty in recruiting members.
• 43% stated that induction training should be compulsory for School Board members and 55% felt it should also be compulsory for Headteachers.
• 43% stated that Councillor training should also be compulsory.

The Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc Act 2000 placed extra duties on School Boards. Among them the duty to raise the standard of educational attainment in schools. Other duties include promoting contact between school, parents and the community; taking part in the selection of senior staff; encouraging community use of school premises and control of those premises outwith school hours; to have a say in the setting of occasional holidays; and to approve the Headteacher’s proposals for buying books and other teaching materials. Headteachers are required to consult School Boards and pupils on the School Development Plan and a summary of the plan must now be sent to parents.

Providing information to the School Board

Rating is based on - Very Good/Good Fair/Unsatisfactory.

Education Authority - 60% 40%

Scottish Executive - 45% 55%

SSBA - 80% 20%

Parent Group - 45% 55%

Development of School Policies

• 76% of respondents agreed that the School Board should approve school policies.
• 75% felt that the Board should be required to communicate the views of the parents about school policies to the parent body and local and national government.
• 72% agreed that the School Board should have a role in monitoring policies.
• 61% said the School Board should have a role in monitoring other school management issues, such as homework, school dress and school hours.

School Development Plans

All schools should have a School Development Plan in place. The plan should address priorities for improving the school’s performance and meeting the school’s declared aims. At present the School Board must be consulted when the plan is being drafted and when it is being audited. The plan must take account of the Local Authorities stated educational objectives which in turn must take account of the Governments five national priorities for education.

• 87% of respondents stated that they had been consulted on the School Development Plan (SDP) in the last 12 months. This is an increase of between 5% and 10% since 1996.

At present the Headteacher does not require to get the agreement of the School Board on these plans.

• In 1996 only 46% of respondents stated that the Board should not be required to approve the plan. However, this number has increased significantly to 73% in 2002.
• 60% of School Boards had been consulted on the Education Authorities Educational Objectives. Only 47% of schools had sent a summary of the plan to parents.

Devolved School Management

Decisions on day-to-day management of schools are taken, wherever possible, at school level by Headteachers following consultation and approval of their School Boards. At present the School Board has power of approval over the Headteacher’s proposals for the use of the budget for the purchase of books and other teaching materials but can only comment on other aspects of the budget.

• 70% of School Boards are happy with the current arrangements.
• 50% agree that the School Board should have a role in monitoring the Headteacher’s expenditure.
• 72% of School Boards have approved the budget for the current year.

Devolving responsibility to the School Board

Under the School Boards Act 1988 School Boards were given powers to be involved in the appointment of Senior Staff.

• Only 25% of respondents said that they would like to be see an increase in powers to be involved in ALL staff appointments. 75% stated that they were happy to be involved in senior staff appointments as at present.
• Orkney Islands Council have given School Boards delegated powers for involvement in all staff appointments.

School Board elections

• 72% of School Board members stated that every school should be required to have a School Board (59% in 1996).
• 90% said that parents should remain in the majority on the School Board and that numbers were adequate at present.
• 90% of respondents stated that School Board legislation should be retained.
• 55% were against all staff members being included on School Boards – only teachers and technicians are eligible at present.
• 91% believe that the position of Chairperson should be held by a parent or a co-opted member (as at present).
• 70% of School Boards stated that the by-election process should be removed entirely.
• 90% of Boards supported the legislation to remove School Board members. 79% of Boards requested this change in the legislation which was introduced recently.

School Board training

SSBA wrote to the Scottish Executive and ADES (Association of Directors of Education in Scotland) in 2001 stating that in our opinion, not enough support was offered to School Boards particularly for training and budgets.

• 58% of School Board believed that training was appropriate in their area.
• 33% had attended School Board training during the past 12 months. (57% in 1996).
• Only 11% of Headteachers had attended School Board training during the past year.
• 82% stated that they would like to have free training offered locally.
• Only 17% of School Boards stated that they had enough money to pay for training.
• 95% of School Boards wanted to be provided with information booklets for School Board members and Headteachers.
• Between 66% and 89% wanted the opportunity to attend a variety of SSBA training courses on the role of the School Board.

Funding of School Boards

The Act places a duty on the Director of Education to consult Boards on the level of funding.

• 56% of Boards received enough money to operate effectively.
• 77% were consulted on the level of funding they receive.

An SSBA survey in 2001 showed that only one authority came close to the SSBA recommended level of funding.

• 72% of Boards stated that a national formula such as that recommended by SSBA should be introduced for the funding of School Boards.
• 89% said there should be a legal minimum.

The School Board and Parents/Parents Groups

• 73% of those responding stated that they encouraged parental involvement in their School Board activities, eg. through School Board sub-committees, parent project groups, PTAs and PAs.
• 21% of School Boards include a report from the PTA as a regular item on the School Board Agenda.
• 14% stated that they placed a report on the PTA agenda.

School Board and Education Committees

• 78% of School Boards believe that School Boards should be represented on Education Committees and that the member(s) should be elected by the School Boards in the area.

Responding to parents

• 59% of School Boards were aware of the Education Authorities procedures for dealing with complaints.
• 80% were aware of the schools complaints procedures.
• 70% stated that parents should be encouraged to approach the School Board for advice.

Pupil representation

• 67% of respondents stated that they had a pupil council in their school.
• 58% of those responding from secondary schools stated that there was a pupil on their School Board (you have to be over 16 to be eligible and it is therefore only secondary schools that have pupil representatives).
• Only 2 of the 541 respondents had pupil representation on the PTA.

Ann Hill
Chief Executive, SSBA

March 2002.