Become a Governor
The college currently has one vacancy for a Foundation Governor, with another due at the end of the academic year, and we particularly need people who might be interested in taking on a Chair, Vice-Chair or Committee Chair role.
Foundation Governors must be practicing Catholics and have a commitment and enthusiasm for Catholic education. They serve as the Bishop’s representatives on the governing body, and work alongside the other governors to meet the duties below, having specific responsibility for the Catholic life and mission of the college, its ethos and the teaching of Religious Education.
We can also co-opt members to the individual committees. These co-opted committee members are not full governors and do not have voting rights on the full governing board but are recruited to specific committees where they can contribute relevant skills. More information on the governor committees can be found here.
If you are interested in joining the Governing Body, especially as a Foundation Governor, please contact the Governance Professional – leanne.sowersby@stbrn.ac.uk
Core functions
The core functions of your corporation board include
- determining or, for Catholic sixth-form colleges, preserving and developing your college’s educational character
- setting and communicating your college’s strategy and goals
- holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance and quality of your college, and for the performance of staff
- exercising effective control to ensure that funds and assets are protected, your organisation remains solvent and legal obligations are met
Six main duties
As a member of the board, you are a governor and a charity trustee. You and your co-governors are collectively responsible for your charity and have 6 main duties under charity law:
1. Ensure your corporation carries out its purpose for the public benefit
You must ensure your corporation carries out the charitable purpose for which it was set up, and no other purpose.
Corporations can operate one or more colleges. Their principal powers include the provision of:
· further and higher education
· secondary education to students aged 14 and over
· goods or services in connection with the above
You should:
· ensure you understand your corporation’s purpose and, with your co-governors, plan how this will be achieved · understand, and be able to explain, how your corporation benefits the public
· be able to explain how your corporation’s activities support its purpose
2. Comply with your corporation’s governing document and the law
You must:
· comply with charity law and other laws and regulations that apply to your corporation
· comply with your corporation’s instrument and articles of government
Your board can amend your corporation’s instrument and articles in accordance with the procedure set out in that document. But your board must not make changes that:
· cause the corporation to cease to be a charity · give a personal benefit to a governor, unless this has Charity Commission authority · cause the instrument and articles to no longer comply with Schedule 4 of the FHEA 1992
3. Act in your corporation’s best interests
You must:
· decide with your co-governors what will best enable your corporation to carry out its purpose · make balanced and informed decisions with your co-governors · avoid being in a position where your duty to your corporation conflicts with your personal interests
· not receive any benefit from your corporation, unless this is authorised and is in your corporation’s interests
4. Manage your corporation’s resources responsibly
You must:
· make sure your corporation’s assets are used only to support its purpose · avoid exposing your corporation to undue risk
· not overcommit your corporation · take care when investing or borrowing · comply with any restrictions on spending funds or selling land
· ensure the effective and efficient use of resources
5. Act with reasonable care and skill
You:
· must take reasonable care in governing your corporation, making best use of your skills and experience, and taking appropriate advice when necessary
· should give enough time to your role, including preparing for and participating in meetings
6. Ensure your corporation is accountable
You must comply with accounting and reporting requirements. You should also:
· demonstrate that your corporation complies with the law and is run effectively
· ensure accountability in your corporation, especially where duties or tasks are delegated to staff For more information on your responsibilities, we strongly recommend that you read The essential trustee Charity Commission guide.
Further Information about governance of sixth form colleges can be found in the FE and sixth-form college corporations: governance guide
Further information about governance in the Catholic Diocese of Clifton can be found here.
