Bryan Slater Director of Education	Distribution
	Headteachers of all Norfolk Schools cc: Chairs of Governors Clerks of Governors

This document needs your action as detailed below:

ACTION	Title	Open References
	Summary of contents	Letter of recommendation to adopt an open reference policy with attached guidance and policy.
	Associated documents	None
	Date	20^th February, 2004
	Summary of action required	· To read the attached letter, guidance and policy; · Governing Body to make a decision on whether (or not) to adopt an open reference policy (as enclosed or in an amended form)
	To be completed by	as soon as practicable
	LEA Contact	Bob Hedley, Personnel Manager; or Ian Cooper Senior Personnel Consultant	(	01603 222418 or 01603 222803
	E-mail address	bob.hedley@norfolk.gov.uk ian.cooper@norfolk.gov.uk
	Norfolk Self Review reference	1. How well is the school led and managed?
	Document reference	MI 39 /04

Open References

Education Personnel Services has developed some guidance and a policy on open references, details of which are enclosed.

The guidance policy has been subject to and reflects consultation with the recognised trade unions and the usual employer representative bodies with whom we consult.

As with such policies/guidance, it is up to each Governing Body to decide whether (or not) to adopt but my strong recommendation is that your school adopts an open reference policy - whether as enclosed or in an amended form.

My reasons for this recommendation are:-

· the school will now have a culture of performance management embedded and the dialogue between individual members of staff and their manager is likely to be such that the content of references is largely known, supported by a spirit of openness and transparency;

· the County Council has successfully adopted a policy which allows access to personal files

Re: Open References 20^th February, 2004

· legislation, including the Data Protection Act 1998, Human Rights Act 1998 and case law related specifically to the content of references are all compatible and support the desirability to adopt such a policy.

If you have any queries or concerns about the content of this letter or enclosure, please contact Bob Hedley, Personnel Manager, on 01603 222418; or Ian Cooper, Senior Personnel Consultant, on 01603 222803.

Yours sincerely,

Bryan Slater

Director of Education

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