Huw Lewis, Minister for Education and Skills
This was published under the 2011 to 2016 administration of the Welsh Government
On 8 November 2012 the then Minister for Education and Skills, Leighton Andrews issued a Written Statement regarding a Task and Finish Group that he established to look at school governance issues. The Group’s original remit was to consider the fitness for purpose of the school governance framework in Wales and make recommendations based on the conclusions drawn from the group’s review.
The work of the School Governance Task and Finish Group was held in abeyance whilst the Hill Review was being carried out. The Group formally reconvened on 4 April 2013 and continued their consideration of the governance framework within the context of the changes suggested in the Hill Report.
The Group’s report contained 31recommendations, many of which are already planned or in hand as part of the Welsh Government’s planned review of the school governance legislative framework. A copy of the report and the Welsh Government’s response has been published today and can be found online.
The current school governance legislative framework has been in place since 2005 and is considered to be inflexible and does not allow school governors to respond quickly and flexibly to national initiatives – it is too defined and restrictive. Whilst the recommendations of the Task and Finish Group go some way to address this it does not go far enough. My Department will continue to look at the role of governing bodies to determine what further action is required. I will keep Members informed.
Finally I would like to thank the Group for their report.