School Policy on Consultation

SCHOOL POLICY ON CONSULTATION - PROCEDURES AND METHODOLOGY

1 Consultation over key issues and change is essential and stakeholders opinions should be taken into consideration

2 The key stakeholders that should be consulted a particular policy change are:

- students - local employers (where appropriate)

- staff - local partners

- parents

- Governors

3 A consultation document should be produced that outlines the:

- organisation behind the change

- the current methodology

- the proposed change

- the rationale behind the change

- the cost of the change

- the implications of the change

- detailed working associated with the changes

- time scale of implementation

- time scale of consultation

4 The consultation document should be circulated to relevant stakeholders and placed on the school website, where possible.

5 Stage One - Acceptance of Consultation paper

Where appropriate the Consultation paper should be approved by the decision making body. This will usually be the Governing body but in some cases would be the College Leadership Team

6 Formal consultation begins following approval of the papers

7 Once the papers have been approved a formal presentation should take place to key stakeholders. This may not have to be all stakeholders but groups that require formal presentations should be detailed at the start of the process.

8 Once the process has commenced at least four weeks should be allowed for groups to report back in written form to the organisation that is proposing the change.

9 Groups should report back in written format.

10 After the Consultation period has been completed proposed amendments if any, should be made to the original proposals and a new recommendation put forward

11 This recommended final paper should be presented to the decision making body. This body should then make the decision to either accept the policy change, ask for further review or abandon the proposal.

12 The formal final presentation detail of amendments proposed by stakeholders must be put forward. In some cases stakeholders may be requested to attend this meeting

13 There may be a need for a second round of meetings and this will mean a further meeting of the decision making group.

Consultation Paper written by proposing group

Consultation Paper accepted by decision making board

Presentation to stakeholders

Refer back

Papers from stakeholders to proposing group

Presentation to decision making group by Proposing Group

Decision by proposing group

Reject proposal

Agree proposal

Implementation