Question:
Are Refunds paid if cover is cancelled mid term?
Answer:
No due to the small premiums no mid term refunds are issued.
Question:
Are we covered by the LEA?
Answer:
Yes and no – LEA's arrange insurance but the local County Council have huge insurance excesses some £250,000 – so if they had to pay this in a claim would the support the school? The Head ? The Governing Body? Or protect themselves? A conflict of interest could easily arise.
Some Insurance policies also say that cover is only valid if Governor Law has been complied with – with 330 pages in the current guide and two annual updates there can obviously be non compliance in many areas – unintentional breach of Governor law is covered on our scheme.
Question:
Can I insure for previous decisions taken / actions?
Answer:
Yes for the first year only you can pay 50% additional premium and cover will be provided retrospectively for the previous 12 months. Obviously the insurance will not cover any incidents which you are currently aware of.
Question:
Can I upgrade my cover or make changes to my policy?
Answer:
Yes, you can change your personal details, upgrade the indemnity limit or renew your policy online.
Question:
Do we have to pay an excess in the event of a claim?
Answer:
No there is no excess to pay by the school.
Question:
Do we have to tell you every time a Governor changes?
Answer:
No the cover and premium is based on the number of Governors on your Board (the number in your constitution). Cover under the Governing Body scheme does not list the names of current governors.
Question:
How do I receive a quotation?
Answer:
Just complete the quotation form and it will be sent / emailed to you.
Question:
How is cover arranged?
Answer:
Cover is arranged on a Claims Made basis so cover must be in force when the claim is notified.
Question:
How will my renewal be dealt with?
Answer:
We will send you an email with details of your renewal approximately 30 days before the cover is due to expire. The email will explain how to renew your cover using this web site.
Question:
What types of schools can be covered?
Answer:
The governing body for academy, nursery, infant, foundation, primary, junior, high, special needs, private and voluntary, village and independent can be insured.
Question:
Who could make a claim against a Governing Body?
Answer:
Pupils, past and present, Parents, Teachers and other Staff, Financial Benefactors, Suppliers / School Visitors and Other Governors.
Question:
Who is the insurer?
Answer:
The insurer behind the scheme is Hiscox; a major international company with offices in 12 countries and customers around the world.
Question:
Why should cover be taken?
Answer:
The School Governors Liability Scheme is an affordable insurance product which helps protect Governors from financial loss arising from claims for negligence or breach of duty in the management of their school which falls outside the protection provided by the LEA.
Defending a claim can prove extremely expensive. A large legal bill can quickly accrue financially impacting the Governors and their school where it agrees to reimburse the Governors.
When a person becomes a Governor they are obliged to undertake certain duties and assume responsibilities on behalf of the school. They are expected to perform these duties with a reasonable degree of care, skill and in good faith. Unfortunately there are no set rules as to what is and is not 'good faith' and therefore you may or may not be covered by LEA.