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Are you a primary school governor? A very simple question...

98 replies

Wigeon · 08/03/2013 13:14

...does the school provide tea and coffee for free at governor meetings (full meetings and sub-committees)?

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fedupwithdeployment · 08/03/2013 13:16

My DH is. I think they do....but he said that the sandwiches were rubbish (he was there from 6 until 9.30 last night).

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Fuzzymum1 · 08/03/2013 13:24

I was a governor for 12 years, if we wanted a cuppa we could help ourselves in the meeting room before the meeting started, quite often there were jugs of water on the table. Sometimes someone would bring some cake or similar. Whatever was provided was never charged for. I hope the situation is the same as I am soon to go to my fist meeting as a new governor again.

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Tiggles · 08/03/2013 13:30

Nope.
Although meetings are only allowed to be 2hours long (not sure if that is a Welsh thing or not) so not really needed.

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Wigeon · 08/03/2013 13:33

He got sandwiches Shock!

We have never been provided with tea/ coffee. Or even offered water out of plastic cups. In fact at last week's subcommittee (in the staff room), as people were coming in, the Deputy HT got up, made himself a coffee, didn't even offer anyone a glass of water, and sipped the coffee through the meeting.

Right at the end of the meeting, I suggested that it would be nice if there were basic refreshments at governor meetings (just tea and coffee), and the Deputy HT said "Well, I can tell you now that it won't be coming out of the school budget!". Shock.

Just trying to assess whether refreshments are provided at all other governor meetings...

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plainjayne123 · 08/03/2013 13:36

Ridiculous attitude.

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BeerTricksPotter · 08/03/2013 13:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Chocotrekkie · 08/03/2013 13:48

We have a cuppa each to take into meetings just using the staff room stuff and for full govs head supplies snacks like crisps/ biscuits. For committee meetings no snacks on the table but he says to help ourselves to whatever is in the staff room before the meeting starts if we want....

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EmmaGellerGreen · 08/03/2013 13:48

We help ourselves to drinks and someone bring cakes.

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rabbitstew · 08/03/2013 13:48

Does the Deputy HT want a governing body???!!...

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cakesaregood · 08/03/2013 13:55

Most schools run a kitty for tea/coffee in the staffroom and in some staffrooms this is a very tetchy subject.

Even with a kitty though, lots of schools see visitors and volunteers as guests and do not begrudge them a little hospitality.

I'm guessing if I was a plumber, I wouldn't want to to be working at the deputy head's home!

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Wigeon · 08/03/2013 14:01

I was thinking about members of staff paying for tea via a kitty vs governors paying for their own tea. The big difference is that most employees do not expect their employer to pay for their food / drink during working hours (I certainly wouldn't expect my public sector employer to pay for my daytime cuppa). Volunteers are giving their time for free, and so it's completely different.

rabbitstew: actually, I think he would much prefer it if there wasn't a governing body. At this rate, his wish is going to come true!

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starfishmummy · 08/03/2013 14:04

Tea/coffee and occasionally biscuits. Drinks usually offered before the meeting starts so if you dash in at the last minute then you probably don't get a drink and have to sit looking at the plate of biscuits out of reach on the other side of the room!

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lougle · 08/03/2013 14:08

We have 15 on our Governing Body.

At each meeting there is an urn with tea bags, coffee, sugar and milk provided. Also 2 plates of biscuits.

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seeker · 08/03/2013 14:10

Free tea and coffee and biscuits.

I take cake. But I take cake to everything

I

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choccyp1g · 08/03/2013 14:13

Urns of hot water plus instant coffee and tea-bags to make your own tea plus plate of biscuits. Nothing fancy, but enough to make you feel welcome.
Same at the committee meetings too.

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JakeBullet · 08/03/2013 14:15

Its not actually provided but we CAN make it if we want to....sometimes I do

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Wigeon · 08/03/2013 14:16

I would not expect Twinnings leaf tea and freshly ground filter coffee - instant Nescafe plus Tesco own brand tea bags.

I have brought homemade cake or biscuits to each meeting so far...

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ShatnersBassoon · 08/03/2013 14:18

Yes, we can help ourselves to drinks and there's usually a plate of biscuits.

I'm not sure why any staff member would resent the Govs some light refreshments. It seems churlish and petty to deny you a drink.

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PatriciaHolm · 08/03/2013 14:23

Yes. It comes from the stash for parents, not the staff stash, I think.

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Acinonyx · 08/03/2013 15:52

Tea & coffee yes - but Shock never sandwiches and certainly no hint of pizza ShockShock

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kneesofnorks · 08/03/2013 15:55

ours are held in the staffroom, where we help ourselves to tea and coffee, theres always biscuits or cake and this week we had a training session where we had pizza, salad, crisps and even wine! that was unusual though Grin

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Fallenangle · 08/03/2013 15:57

Well it not up to the DH what comes out of the school budget, it is up to the governors. Refreshments at meetings are a permissable expense, but someone will need to make the tea.

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BonfireOfKleenex · 08/03/2013 16:12

I can see that if there are staffroom wars over disappearing 'kitty' supplies then it might be difficult, but really the school should pay for a supply for guests and governers so that no-one feels awkward about it.

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BeerTricksPotter · 08/03/2013 16:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Feenie · 08/03/2013 16:41

Is this a state school?

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