Chair’s Welcome
Welcome to the RGA website. This is a place created by governors, for governors.
COVID-19 has changed the way we govern, perhaps forever. To help you we are using this website to share the latest local and national news as well as updated guidance from Brighter Futures for Children and the DfE.
Whether it’s the full re-opening in September, challenges around safeguarding or supporting your most disadvantaged pupils, please keep an eye on our latest news column, to the right of this page. We will also send out a Newsletter (via your clerks) in the Autumn term.
Finance is another big concern for all of us. We can expect more demand than ever with additional needs as children re-enter the classroom and with the pressure to make up for lost learning it will be interesting to see what the Government can deliver with the pledged £1bn of financial support.
Details are still scant but the the Education Endowment Fund (EEF) have published a good guide to the £350m National Tutoring Programme which you can read here. It is equally unclear how the £650m ‘additional funding’ will be distributed. For now, it seems the DfE are investing heavily in on line resources through the Oak national academy which is free for Teachers and Parents to use. Visit thenational.academy.
Richard Rolfe
OUR PARTNERS
RGA Annual General Meeting
Our constitution requires us to hold an AGM every academic year however, in the light of the COVID-19 restrictions, the board has taken the decision to postpone the meeting until the new academic year, and the current board members will continue to act until that time.
The constitution also requires us to agree a membership fee that will be confirmed by resolution at the AGM. Last year, the Chair explained how the RGA is developing and expanding its roles, and flagged the likely need to increase annual membership fees. The Treasurer’s Report shows running costs of room hire, refreshments and Clerking exceed the current income, with reserves spent on the design, build and deployment of our new website. The executive committee will, therefore, be recommending an increase to the annual membership fee to £50 (£30 nurseries) from September. Please contact the Chair if you have any comments to make.
The date of the AGM will be shown in the events box below, and members will receive an email invitation.
News
NGA guidance – Preparing for Full Re-opening of Schools
24th July 2020
The NGA has released a summary of DfE guidance which focusses on ensuring risks are fully assessed and appropriate plans are in place for full re-opening. Read it here Alternatively, you can find the full DfE guidance on school re-opening by clicking Here
BFfC Summer Governance Newsletter now out
24th July 2020
If your school subscribes to BFfC’s Governor Services, you should have just been sent the Summer Newsletter. This is an invaluable checklist of the latest updates to governors’ responsibilities and guidance, including the latest requirements from the DfE.
NGA comes to Reading
28th February 2020
The NGA’s SE regional conference is being held in Friar Street, Reading on Saturday 28th March from 10:00 to 15:30. RGA officers will be attending on your behalf, but if your governing body is a member of NGA, we strongly recommend you book to attend.
Exclusions from Reading schools continue to decline
11th January 2020
Contrary to a shameful editorial heading in yesterday’s Reading Chronicle, there were NOT “Thousands of Reading students excluded for violence”.
RGA Autumn Newsletter just out
10th December 2019
For a snapshot of what we have been up to this term, and what you might have missed, please read our latest newsletter here.