Recently, the executive board at Taaleem and the Taaleem school principals have been discussing ways in which school governance can be opened up across the whole organisation. This is no small or easy task, but we are committed to changes in structure that will

· Facilitate parent and staff involvement in school governance

· Involve members of the community in planning the school’s future

· Streamline common policy making across Taaleem

As a result, each Taaleem school will establish a School Advisory Board made up of parents and staff, invited to serve by the principal of each school as well as members of the Taaleem executive. The draft constitution of the DBS Advisory Board can be read by clicking this link.

The Taaleem Foundation Board, consisting of all school principals and major company executives will be the central policy making group for Taaleem. It will be informed and advised by the school Advisory Boards and by executive standing committees for Philosophy, Education, HR, and Finance, in which Principals and other Taaleem officers will pay close attention to the development of the whole organisation in different specialised areas.

The relationship between the school advisory boards, the Foundation Board and the standing committees can be viewed here.

These changes constitute important and exciting developments in the school’s history. If, as a member of staff at DBS or as a parent, you would like to be considered for the new DBS School Advisory Board, please email my PA, Salma Darwazeh on sdarwazeh@dubaibritishschool.ae

We hope to have our inaugural meeting before the end of term.

Andrew Homden, November 15 2009.