This document provides a template for the Instrument of Government for a voluntary controlled Church of England school in the Diocese of Exeter. It includes sections for the school name, governing body composition and roles, foundation details, and an ethos statement emphasizing the school's Christian character. Instructions note some sections may require customization depending on the specific school's structure and history.

1. DIOCESE OF EXETER
INSTRUMENT OF GOVERNMENT: VOLUNTARY CONTROLLED SCHOOL
1 The name of the school is …………………………………………………………
2 The school is a voluntary controlled school.
3 The name of the governing body is 'The governing body of ……………….
…….………………………………………………………………… [set out the
name of the school as in paragraph 1 above]
4 The governing body shall consist of :
a ….. parent governors
b ….. LEA governors
c ….. staff governors
d ….. community governors
e ….. foundation governors
f ….. (where applicable) sponsor governors (up to two places)
5 Total number of governors …...
6 The sponsor(s) entitled to nominate person(s) for appointment as sponsor
governors under Schedule 5 of the Regulations is/are ………………………
7 Foundation governors shall be appointed by Exeter Diocesan Board of
Education.
8 (a) The holder of the following office shall be a foundation governor ex-officio.
The Principal Officiating Minister.
(b) The Archdeacon of …….. shall be entitled to appoint a foundation governor to
act in the place of the ex-officio foundation governor whose governorship
derives from the office named in (a) above, in the event that the ex-officio
foundation governor is unable or unwilling to act as a foundation governor or
there is a vacancy in the office by virtue of which his/her governorship exists.
9 Exeter Diocesan Board of Education shall be entitled to request the removal
of any ex-officio foundation governor and to appoint any substitute governor,
in consultation with the Archdeacon named in 8 (b) above.
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2. 10 The school was founded by Trust Deed.
11 Ethos Statement:
This is a Church of England school in the Diocese of Exeter.
Recognising its historic foundation, the school will preserve and develop its
religious character in accordance with the principles and practice of the
Church of England and in partnership with the Church in the parish and the
diocese.
The school aims to serve its community by providing an education of the
highest quality within the context of Christian belief and practice. It
encourages an understanding of the meaning and significance of faith, and
promotes Christian values through the experiences it offers to all its pupils.
12 The term of office of (category of governor) is …………………….. [a period of
between one and four years]
[applicable only if the term of office of one or more categories of governor is
less than four years]
13 This Instrument of Government comes into effect on ………………………….
14 This Instrument was made by order of ……………………………. Local
Education Authority on ………………………………….
[do not complete]
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3. DIOCESE OF EXETER
RECONSTITUTION OF GOVERNING BODIES
CHURCH OF ENGLAND VOLUNTARY SCHOOLS
The attached draft Instrument of Government for
………………………………………………………………………………………………… School
has been seen and approved by
The Governing Body
Signature Position Date
Date of governing body meeting
Minute number
The Foundation Governors
Signature Position Date
The Trustees (where applicable)
Signature Position Date
Exeter Diocesan Board of Education
Signature Position Date
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4. DIOCESE OF EXETER
RECONSTITUTION OF GOVERNING BODIES
CHURCH OF ENGLAND VOLUNTARY CONTROLLED SCHOOLS
Notes to Accompany the Model Instrument
PARAGRAPH 6
Sponsor governors must represent bodies which give substantial and ongoing
support to the school. This does not include Trusts.
PARAGRAPH 8(B)
Please refer to your current Instrument for the title of your Archdeacon.
PARAGRAPH 10
You may add brief details about your Trust Deed if you have a copy.
For example, the date of the founding of the school or the name of the founder.
Please keep such details simple and brief.
There are some schools for which the Diocese has no record of a Trust Deed. This
does not mean that a Trust Deed does not exist, simply that the Diocese has no
record of it. I have listed these schools below1.
If you know that a Trust Deed exists, please keep this paragraph in the Instrument
and send me the details of the Deed.
You may, if you wish, try to find the Trust Deed. There are various sources for
investigation. Please contact this office for further details.
PARAGRAPH 11
Please use the Ethos Statement given on the model, or copy the Statement shown
on your current Instrument.
PARAGRAPH 13
Please allow sufficient time for your Instrument to be processed by the Board's staff
and the LEA's staff. Ideally, allow at least two months.
These notes refer to the Diocesan Model Instrument of Government (and the DfES
guidance)
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