Governance of Schools

Conference asserts that the current school governance arrangements in Northern Ireland schools increasingly are not fit for purpose.

Conference pays tribute to teacher governors who seek to hold their boards of governors to account and who represent the interests of teaching staff in difficult circumstances

Conference is, however, concerned, by the increasing number of examples of boards of governors attempting to marginalise and exclude teacher governors from decision making

Conference is further concerned by the growing evidence of abuse by boards of governors of indefinite precautionary suspension of staff, with the consequent adverse impact on teachers’ health, welfare and careers, on the continuity of teaching and learning and on the cost to the public purse.

Conference calls on the ICTU to:

• Lobby for a comprehensive review of the governance of schools and
• Highlight the abuse of the precautionary suspension procedure.