NOMINATING THE INVESTIGATING GOVERNOR/S

When it is decided that a formal investigation is recommended. The Chair will arrange for the Clerk to Governors to convene a governing body meeting to nominate a governor/s to investigate.

Best Practice Advice

It is recommended that an officer from the School Governor Service is asked to attend the meeting to assist governors in this process. This will provide support for governors and ensure nothing inadvertently occurs which may jeopardise the procedures at a later stage.

The officer will recommend that:

• If present, the Headteacher and any other persons involved in the case should withdraw from the meeting for this item

• The governing body should not be told any details of the case to maintain confidentiality and also neutrality should the investigation result in a hearing

• The governing body nominate one or two governors to investigate. This should not include the Chair of Governors.

• The nominated governor/s should have the expertise and the time to undertake the investigation speedily.

• The investigating governors should not be on the Discipline, Grievance and Dismissal Committee or the Appeals Committee of the governing body (for reasons of neutrality).

• If the governorsdecide for whatever reason that a governor/s on the Committee/s is the best person to undertake the investigation, the governing body will have to agree a replacement governor/s for the Committee at a full governing body meeting which is quorate.

The officer from the Governor Support Service will contact the school`s Human Resources Adviser with details of the investigating governors. The Human Resources Adviser will contact the investigating governors as a matter of urgency and will provide advice and support to them throughout the investigation process.