Posted By Nick Higginson Hi all, I have recently been appointed health & safety link governor for my daughter's school. As a utility company safety advisor, school safety is not an area I have a great deal of expertise in. COuld anyone point me in the right direction of some literature please? Many thanks in advance, Nick

Posted By Martin Gray I used to be a parent governor with the same responsibilities if you contact your local education authority governor support they will advise you. They also should run courses for school governors for H&S

Posted By Jack Nick I'm probably teaching you to suck eggs but one important point often overlooked by governors is their status (ie is the governing body the employer or not?). This depends on the type of school eg in a Foundation school the GB is employer but in Community school it is the LEA (it is obviously an important distinction for h&s management because main responsibility is placed on employer so in the latter case the school has to implement the LEA Policy) You've probably seen it but the DfES has just published guidance on responsibilities: http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/bank.cfm?section=2034

Posted By Bryn Maidment Nick As a Governor you'll probably find the role as challenging, frustrating and rewarding as your PAID, day job! The DfEE Publications Centre produce a "Guide to the Law for School Governors". You can ask your school to get it or e.mail - dfee@prologistics.co.uk and request a copy, you will need to tell them what your school status is and quote SGLC (with a ring binder) or SGLCT (without). They also have a site for Governors - http://www.dfee.gov.uk/governor/governor.htm where you can find all your needs. Your LEA will undoubtedly have a Governor support person. Best of luck!!

Posted By Zoe Barnett Hi Nick, I'm an education H&S adviser so if you'd like to give me a call (01634 331038) I'll be happy to help - just don't mention headlice!!! Regards Zoe

Posted By John Webster Nick, Looks like a good number of us have taken on this responsibility (is it compulsory for those of use with kids?), and, having just finished my 3 year stint in November, would endorse what has already been posted. Frustrating it certainly can be, peeling away the layers of bureaucracy at the Local Authority and the tendency to pass responsibility between departments and agencies who don't actually talk to each other- I must admit to having failed to get agreement on much needed road safety improvements when the school was being extended (required Education, Technical Services, Roads & Planning Departments to co-operate!). The sucesses are therefore to be savoured - like the day I finally saw a workman take a stone cutter to the school wall to reduce the height at the car park exit to below that of a child's head (just a pity he was doing it at 3:30pm as the kids were leaving through the gate!). Good luck and "Illegitimae nil carborundum" John