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Governing Bodies Face Review

Schools Secretary Ed Balls has signalled a "root and branch review" of school governing bodies.

The news follows the NASUWT's criticisms that many governing bodies were "not fit for purpose" and placed too much responsibility on "well-meaning volunteers."

Delegates at the union's spring conference in Birmingham said that governors were increasingly overwhelmed with information and frequently rubber-stamped head teachers' plans without understanding their true significance.

General Secretary of the NASUWT Chris Keates said that: "An essential public service in which there is massive investment of public money should not be in the hands of untrained volunteers, however well-meaning."

The union wants the Department for Children, Schools and Families to look at alternative models of governance, such as those used in the health service.