Association of Governing Bodies of Independent Schools (AGBIS)
Mar. 16, 2017, 3:26pmIn my role as Chairman of Board of Governors at Teesside High School, I attended the Association of Governing Bodies of Independent Schools (AGBIS) conference in Drapers Hall; a very grand venue in London.
Key note speakers included Paula Sussex CEO of the Charity Commission ; Kate Richards Acting Head of the Independent School Inspectorate (ISI); and the excellent John Timpson…of shoe repair fame!
John Timpson’s attitude and approach to running a business was fascinating, refreshing and full of common sense.
Paula Sussex ‘preached’ the rule of law set out by the “Charities Act 2016” but a sensible interpretation thereof which was well received.
Kate Richards, Acting Chief Inspector of ISI updated attendees on “no notice” inspections (i.e. the 8 am telephone call on Monday morning; turn up ‘mob handed’ on Tuesday!) which she sought to defend despite obvious flaws. How are full time working (but unpaid) volunteer governors expected to ‘drop’ everything to attend inspections at such short notice?