Governors

The governing body has three main functions:

• To ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
• To hold executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and pupils
• To oversee the financial performance of the school and make sure the money is being well spent

The governing body fulfils its roles in various ways including assisting to set the vision of the school and monitoring the school improvement plan. Governors are responsible for vigorously analysing pupil performance and financial data to ensure high educational standards in school are being promoted. The governing body has two committees - a Finance Committee and a Curriculum and Standards Committee.

The Governors are a group of people who work together as a critical friend to the school leadership team, ensuring the school continues to move forward in its provision for children, parents and staff. They meet termly at school as a full governing body, as do the committees. 

As part of their role governors discuss with the senior leadership team:

• what is taught 
• standards of behaviour 
• staffing needs including involvement with the interview process
• how the budget is spent 
• how to ensure that there is a safe, clean and pleasant working environment.

School Governors have legal duties, powers and responsibilities as a group. They can only act together, they cannot act individually.

School Governors are:

• parents 
• staff members at the school 
• local council representatives 
• community representatives, business people (called Co-opted Governors).

Parents Governors:

• have a child in school 
• are elected by the parents of the school 
• serve, as do other Governors, for four years.

Why are Parents on the Governing Body?

An important element of the changes in school management has been the active involvement of parents in the running of schools. Parent Governors bring the views of parents to the Governing Body, but they speak and act as individuals.

They cannot speak for all parents and do not vote for all parents in general. They have equal status in the work of the Governing Body, with all other members, and have equal voting rights.

Our associate governors do not have voting rights.