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Governance versus management
Governing councils govern. This is not the same as managing. It’s more about guiding and setting direction. You do not work alone when you're on a council. You and the site leader have shared responsibilities, but your day-to-day involvement is different.
Examples of different responsibilities – councils and site leaders
A comparison of responsibilities – site leaders and governing councils
| Area of responsibility | Site leaders (principals or directors) | Governing councils |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum | Lead the development of teaching and learning programs, and set up timetables and teacher/class allocations. | Provide advice to the site leader to make sure the curriculum offered meets local community needs. For example, a specialist program. |
| Student achievement | Monitor individual student achievement against the department’s standards. | - |
| Student management | Manage all areas of student wellbeing and discipline. | Consult with the site's community to assist when policies are made or reviewed. |
| Staff management (example 1) | Manage all department staff. For example, teaching performance, discipline and complaints. | - |
| Staff management (example 2) | Day-to-day management of staff employed by the council, including performance management. Performance management covers dealing with allegations of misconduct or negligence. | Overall responsibility and management of council employees. |
| Staff employment (example 1) | Employ the department’s teaching and non-teaching staff. | Employ some staff. For example, out of school hours care and canteen. |
| Staff employment (example 2) | - | Take part in an interview panel to employ the site’s principal or director. |
| Big picture planning | Carry out the initiatives and work towards achieving the goals in the site improvement plan. | Work on the site improvement plan and set strategic directions. |
| Finance | Prepare and supply financial reports to the council via the finance advisory committee. | Review, approve and keep a check on the site budget. |
| Reporting | Draft the annual report and share the information. | Endorse the annual report and report to the site's community – and the minister – at least once a year. |
Other people/committees
Out of school hours care (OSHC) staff are managed by the OSHC director, who is supervised by the site leader.
