How we work
Governor posts are voluntary and unpaid. All Governors go through a nomination process where their suitability is examined before being appointed.
A code of conduct outlines Governors' duties and the standards of conduct expected whilst in post.
Code of Conduct
This Code is intended as a guide, to indicate the standards of conduct and accountability which are expected of Corporation Members, to enable them to understand their legal and ethical duties and to assist them both in carrying out those duties and in their relationship with the Corporation and Principal as the Chief Executive. This Code therefore is aimed at promoting effective, well informed and accountable college governance, and is not intended to be a definitive or authoritative statement of the law or good practice.
- Code of Conduct (PDF document) last updated 20 January 2005
A procedure exists to deal with complaints against the corporation, its members or the clerk to the corporation.
- Complaints Prodecure (PDF document)
Nomination Process
The Search and Governor Development Committee fulfils an advisory role to the Corporation Board. Its role is to present nominees to the Corporation of proposed Governors and members who are co-opted to specific Committees of the Corporation (to be known as External Committee members). The Committee's work is supported by Terms of Reference and Standing Orders approved by the Corporation.
In providing its advice to the Corporation, the Committee will take account of the "Seven Principles of Public Life" as well as the values established by the college.
Process for Selecting Nominations for Independent Governors
The Committee will analyse the Skills Template and assess the skills required to fill the vacant/soon to be vacant post.
The Committee will determine the most effective means by which the vacant/soon to be vacant post can be filled.
Current members in post should inform the Clerk to the Corporation if they wish to seek re-appointment. The Committee may recommend to the Corporation re-appointment without advertisement following as assessment of the current member's eligibility and contribution to the Corporation. The rational for re-appointment must be fully discussed by the Committee and formally recorded in the minutes.
New applicants will be required to submit their Curriculum Vitae and details about their experience and skills, and will normally be asked to attend an informal meeting (usually with the Chair of the Committee, the Clerk to the Corporation and the Principal). The purpose of the meeting is to clarify the role of the Governor, provide information about the College and assess the applicants' suitability. The Committee may require an informal meeting with current members seeking re-appointment.
The Committee will base its decision on written documentation, the skills audit, and the report on any informal meeting.
After successful completion of the process, the Committee will make a formal proposal of the named applicant to the Corporation for decision regarding appointment.
The Clerk to the Corporation will manage the overall process, acting as the main point of contact for the Corporation, constructing adverts, arranging interviews as needed and assembling relevant information (curriculum vitae, skill audit) upon which the Committee can base its recommendations.
In accordance with its terms of reference, the Committee will consider all nominations, feedback from the informal meeting and supporting documentation provided by nominees in order to ensure that they meet the skills needs determined by the Corporation and the eligibility requirements of the Instruments of Government.
Following successful completion of this process, the Committee will make a formal proposal of the named candidate to the Corporation for decision.
Principal/Chief Executive
The Principal/Chief Executive is appointed through the selection process for Senior Post Holders. The Principal/Chief Executive is automatically a member of the Corporation Board unless he chooses not to be a member (clause2. (1) (d) of the Instrument of Government - January 2008).
Staff Governor (Two)
1 post - Business Support Staff
1 Post - Teaching Staff
These are appointed through an election process.
Student Governor (Two)
Nominated by the College's National Union of Students (2)
Learning and Skills Council
The Learning and Skills Council may exercise its statutory right to make appointments to the Corporation Board. These appointments are known as LSC Members. There currently no LSC members on the Corporation Board.
Application for Appointment
Applicants must demonstrate how they meet the requirements of the role of Governor and how they can contribute to the success of Tyne Metropolitan College by including, with a CV, specific details of their approach to leadership, experience and achievements.
Once a recommendation has been made to appoint at the respective Search and Governor Development Committee a Criminal Records Bureau check, taking the form of a 'Standard Disclosure', will be undertaken.
Conditions of Appointment
All new Governors/External Committee members are required to complete a Register of Interests and Confirmation of Eligibility form. The Register of Interests is updated annually.
Corporation Members are normally appointed for a three-year term of office unless the Corporation approves an additional period to a maximum of four years in order to stagger the terms of office of members. Applicants should confirm that they are willing to serve for three years. There is no limit as to the number of terms a Corporation member may serve as long as the criteria of skills match the requirements of the Corporation Board.
Membership is part-time. The Corporation meets at least six times a year with additional meetings for the standing committees and a strategic planning weekend once a year. Meetings can be during the day, but are often held in the evening. A high level of attendance is expected.
The Student member must be enrolled on a course (full- or part-time) which is funded by the Learning and Skills Council or the Higher Education Funding Council for England and which is of at least one-year duration.
Where students, Local Authority and/or staff members leave their designated posts their membership of the Corporation will automatically cease and the nomination process will commence again.
The Student member will cease to hold office if he/she is expelled from the college.
Under circumstances related to bankruptcy and prison sentences, specified in the Instrument of Government, a Corporation Member will be disqualified from holding or from continuing to hold office as a member (Instrument of Government, clause 8.).
The Corporation can remove a member from office if it is satisfied that he/she has been absent from meetings for a period of longer than six consecutive months without permission of the Corporation or that he/she is unable or unfit to discharge the function of a Governor (Instrument of Government, clause 10.2.(b)).
Renumeration
Membership is unpaid but the college will meet travelling and subsistence expenses.
