School Council – Training and Good Governance

Resources

School council training

Improving school governance training modules

Improving school governance (ISG) consists of 5 modules, including a table of contents. The modules have been developed to improve knowledge, understanding and skills of school council members, school council presidents and school principals.

The ISG training package comprises 5 modules:

• governance (PDF)
• strategic planning (PDF)
• finance (PDF)
• policy and review (PDF)
• school council president (PDF).

Virtual live and face-to-face training

Virtual live and face-to-face training is delivered free of cost to school councils of Victorian government schools, through Synergistiq.

For face-to-face training schools must fill out and complete the Book to host an ISG training event form.

For further information and to book a training session, visit: Synergistiq School Council Training.

Interactive online training

School councillors can self-register to access free interactive online training through The Big Canvas learning management system (LMS).

Online training can be accessed individually or in small groups, at a time and place convenient to participants.

To access the Interactive Online training visit: The Big Canvas Interactive Online training

Councillors are to be formally reminded about the availability of governance training through tabling the Improving school governance fact sheet (DOCX) at the first meeting annually.

Induction

The School Council Induction Video (available on the Policy tab) provides a summary of the purpose and responsibilities of school councils, as well as the roles and duties of school councillors.

Principals and school council presidents may use the video as general information for school councils, for recruiting prospective councillors, or for the induction of new school councillors.

A Welcome to school council letter (DOCX) has been prepared for principals. Principals are encouraged to use this letter when welcoming new members onto school council.

Self-assessment tool

This self-assessment tool provides support and guidance to school councils in evaluating their effectiveness as a collective council. Group discussion and reflection using the self-assessment process help school councils identify areas for improvement. Refer to: School council self-assessment tool (DOCX) or the tool can be accessed through the School Council Portal (principal and business manager login required).

Self-assessment video

This video provides a summary of:

• the purpose of the self-assessment tool
• the steps to take to complete the self-assessment task.

Watch the Self-assessment video on Vimeo.

Principals and school council presidents may use the video:

• to undertake a review of their school council activities
• to assess their school council activities.