The School Government (Terms of Reference)(Wales) Regulations 2000

Explanatory Note

(This note does not form part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations apply to the governing bodies and head teachers of maintained schools in Wales. They lay down a number of principles which are to serve as terms of reference for governing bodies. They also deal with the respective roles and responsibilities of governing bodies and head teachers.

They impose a duty on the governing body and the head teacher to promote equal opportunities and good relations between persons of different racial groups and different genders (regulation 4).

Under the Regulations the governing body are to carry out their functions with a view to fulfilling a broadly strategic role in the school. As part of this role, they are to establish a strategic framework for the school by setting aims and objectives for the school and policies and targets for achieving those aims and objectives (regulation 5).

The head teacher has responsibility under the Regulations for the day to day organisation, management and control of the school, for advising the governing body on the strategic framework and for implementing the policies adopted by the governing body (regulation 6).

In delegating functions to the head teacher the governing body are required to have regard to their broadly strategic role in the school and to the responsibilities of the head teacher as outlined above. The head teacher must, in carrying out such delegated responsibilities, comply with any reasonable direction of the governing body (regulations 7 and 8).

The Regulations confer particular functions on the governing body and head teacher in respect of the preparation of a policy for the school curriculum (regulation 9).