Are the minutes of Governors' meetings public documents?  I was under the impression that these should be available for all parents / staff to read, (with the exception of confidential material).  In the past, minutes have always been freely available in the entrance hall, along with newsletters, notices of upcoming visits, information about charities and local community events. 

Since the arrival of a new head teacher nearly a year ago, minutes have become a closely guarded secret!  The implication is that if anyone asks to see them there is an ulterior motive.

Any advice on how we can see these on a regular basis without causing too much friction?

Hi Mithras, you don't say what your current role is but I'm guessing you are a staff member - is that the situation?

There's two ways of answering this - both of which in my view say the head is out of order! A legalistic view and (more importantly) a cultural/ethos view about how schools should partner and engage with their local community and stakeholders.

Legally the GB must make available the minutes and GB papers to anyone who asks for them other than confidential information - that means absolutely anyone can just walk in off the street and ask for them. The law is in paras 13 (2) and 13 (3) of The School Governance (Procedures) (England) Regulations 2003:

"2) Subject to paragraph (3), the governing body shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, make available for inspection by any interested person, a copy of - 

(a) the agenda for every meeting;

(b) the signed minutes of every such meeting; and

(c) any report or other paper considered at any such meeting.

3) The governing body may exclude from any item required to be made available in pursuance of paragraph (2) any material relating to - 

(a) a named person who works, or who it is proposed should work, at the school; or

(b) a named pupil at, or candidate for admission to, the school; or

(c) any other matter that, by reason of its nature, the governing body is satisfied should remain confidential."

However any school/GB that makes its community and stakeholders go through this strictly legalitic approach to seeing the GB Minutes etc is seriously missing the point of the both how it should be engaging with its parents staff and the local community, and has also completely failed to notice that entire Freedom of Information and Transparency principles debates and legislation of the last 10 years or more. The presumption now is that everything a public entity like a school does should be public unless there is an overiding requirememnt for it to be kept confidential. Your head seems to be an information dinosaur who still thinks schools are their private area that the parents/staff/community have no rights to know about anything unless the school/head/GB deigns to let you know about something.

I'd want to tackle this through the culture/ethos/route rather then the legal one as in the long run that's better way of getting lasting changes in behaviour than a purely legalistic challenge. If you are a staff meber is this something the staff governors can take a lead on? Or if you are a parent, the parent governors?

 The approach your GB used to take is what my GB does and is in my view good practice. Remember it isn't the head's decison how the GB publicises and makes transparent its business, it's the GB's decison. The Chair needs to make the GB's committment to openness clear.

Do the same rules apply about access to minutes of sub committee meetings? Our clerk is trying to differentiate between the two....Thanks

Many thanks for your prompt replies, particularly your very detailed information, Rott Weiler.

I'm not a member of staff, but having 4 children go through the school during the last 12 years I feel I know the place well, and am very aware that relationships and the general ethos have changed over a short time.

I shall certainly contact the clerk to the governors and let him know of my concerns. 

Thank you again for your help.

 Does this apply to all schools - even Foundation, Trusts and Academies ? Faith schools?