There have been some concerns about checks being made on governors by councils. Governors are quite happy with the reasons behind the proposals in general, but two particular areas requiring checking have caused concern:
Criminal Record Checking
The delay in implementing the Independent Safeguarding Authority leaves the current position unaltered.
Whilst some Local Authorities have adopted their own working practice which is already calling for all Governors to have a current CRB check, the following is a quote from the Briefing for section 5 inspectors on safeguarding children (April 2010)
“Under the current provisions of Safeguarding children and safer recruitment in education, anyone working as a governor of a school or FE college ( including sixth form college), which involves regular work in the presence of, or care for, children, or training, supervising or being in sole change of children must have an enhanced CRB check (if appointed after April 2002). CRB checks are not currently required for any other governors”
The word “work” includes unpaid work by volunteers, including governors. Therefore any Governor who regularly visits school should have a CRB check.
GovernorLine advice is that the guidance available should be followed carefully, so download and read the material available from the Department for Education. The latest guidance can be found in the document Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education.
This guidance was last updated in September 2011.
Call GovernorLine on 08000 722 181 or you can e-mail us from this site.
