Best Value Policy

Rationale
The governing body of Manor Junior School is committed to following Best Value principles in all decisions made. The governing body is required to set targets to raise standards and is expected to provide good quality public services and to spend the available budget wisely. Best Value principles will be applied to education functions, care of pupils, staffing levels and organisation, the school environment and resources, school leadership, school management and financial management. This policy shows how this will be done and why.

Purposes
The Governing Body and Headteacher will do their best through their management and decision-making processes and within the constraints of the available budget to:

• ensure:
  • high standards or attainment and good pupil achievement
  • high quality provision in terms of teaching, the curriculum accommodation and resources;
• take into account the views and aspirations of:
  • all members of the school community
  • the parent body
  • external stakeholders;
• obtain value for money by:
  • Providing necessary and beneficial services for the pupils and other members of the school community at the best possible price.

Through the processes shown below, the Governing Body and Headteacher will:

• agree the direction the school will take;
• link together the processes and development planning and budgetary planning to bring about measurable outcomes;
• evaluate the effectiveness of development work and the associated spending.

This should contribute to the raising of attainment through a process of continuous development and improvement.

Guidelines
The Governing Body, working in cooperation with the headteacher will:

• review systematically the major functions of the school. It will challenge the status quo by exploring how and why particular functions or services are provided;
• consider the quality of necessary existing provision and compare this with the quality and price of alternative providers. Improve quality and value for money through this process of competition.
• monitor educational standards and compare them with schools in similar circumstances and all school nationally. Agree ways of improving standards after seeking professional advice either from within the school, from the Local Education Authority or external consultants;
• monitor the effectiveness of development work, particularly where this has incurred major expenditure;
• consult appropriate stakeholders over major decisions, particularly where these are likely have an impact on standards, the curriculum, the working environment or staff employment. A regular survey of parents will seek views on the effectiveness of the school and seek views about necessary improvements. The governing body will interpret and evaluate the findings before planning any necessary action;
• promote fair competition through quotations and tenders to ensure that major purchases of goods and services are secured in the most economic, efficient and effective way.

This policy will be used at all stages of writing the annual School Development Plan and the Budgetary Plan. It will therefore be appended to these documents.

This policy was last revised on 18 June 2003.