Application Process
To register to attend a course please email Governor Support at governor.support@merton.gov.uk. There is no charge to individual governors for training. Governors from schools who buy into the Governor Support Training Service Level Agreement can attend an unlimited number of 1½ and 2 hour courses. Governors from schools who do not buy into the Governor Support Training Service Level Agreement should seek approval from their school to register for the course as a charge will be incurred. Where a course shows a cost, all governors should seek approval from their school to register for the course as a charge will be incurred.
To have the best chance of securing a place on a course, governors are strongly encouraged to book a place as soon as possible. Late applications may be accepted - please contact governorsupport@merton.gov.uk or call the Governor Support Service on 020 8545 3307/3118/3923.
Booking a course place prior to attendance is essential as we base our courses on a minimum number of attendees to ensure sufficient participation to be of maximum benefit to governors.
Confirmation of Course Place
Governors will receive an acknowledgement of their request by email to confirm their place on the course.
If a governor applies for a course which is already fully booked, they will receive an email to advise them that they have been placed on the waiting list for that course and should a place become available, they will be contacted and offered the place.
Cancelling a Course Place
If a governor is unable to attend a booked session, they should contact Governor Support governor.support@merton.gov.uk as soon as possible so that the place can be allocated to another applicant.
If a governor finds on the day of the course that they are unable to attend, they should contact Governor Support immediately, or at least by the following day, so that this can be recorded as a cancellation rather than non-attendance on their training record. Outside office hours (9am – 5pm), please email Governor Support at governor.support@merton.gov.uk or leave a voicemail message telephone on 020 8545 3307/3118 /3923.
Persistent non-attendance at training courses will be monitored and reported to the school.
Cancellation of Courses
Courses may occasionally be cancelled when the minimum number of applications required have not been received. We will aim to give one week’s notice of any such cancellation via email to everyone who has submitted an application for a place on that course.
Course cancellations may also occur due to tutor illness or if an exceptional unforeseen problem arises. We will give as much notice as we can of any such cancellation and will endeavour to offer an alternative date wherever possible.
Evaluation of Courses
Every effort is made to ensure the high quality of our training courses, including content, presenters and materials. For all courses, participants will be given the opportunity to evaluate the quality of the course by completing an Evaluation Form. To help both course participants and the Governor Support team judge the impact of training on school improvement, our evaluation procedures focus not only on the quality of the training but also the contribution it makes to ongoing school improvement. Course evaluations will be seen by the Governor Support Service and Tutors of the course.
Invoicing
Invoices will be raised on a termly basis for schools who do not buy into the Governor Support Training Service Level agreement and for any training not covered by this SLA, such as courses with an additional charge or school-based training sessions.
Queries
Should you have any queries regarding the above, please contact the Governor Support Service either via e-mail to governor.support@merton.gov.uk or by telephone on 020 8545 3307/3118 /3923.