Role and composition of the governing body
School Governors
The Governing Body of the school is made up of parents and representatives from the local community and members of the school staff, as required by government regulations. The Governors support the running of the school through various committees as well as full governors meetings. Governors produce a report for parents via the School Profile. Parents are informed about vacancies and elections for parent governors.
Role of the governing body
Our purpose is to help our school provide the best possible education for all of our pupils. This is achieved in the following ways:
By providing a strategic view
We help to set, and keep under review, the broad framework within which the head teacher and his staff run the school. In all our work, we focus on the key issues of raising standards of achievement, establishing high expectations and promoting effective teaching and learning.
By acting as a critical friend
The governing body also provides the head teacher and his staff with support and advice, so as to form a good working partnership. In these ways the governing body acts as a critical friend. Critical in the sense of its responsibility for monitoring and evaluating the school’s effectiveness, asking challenging questions and pressing for improvement. A friend, because it exists to promote the interests of the school and its pupils.
By ensuring accountability
The governing body is responsible for setting down the aims and overall conduct of the school, whilst approving the policies and plans which will support them. The head teacher and his staff report to the governors on the school’s performance. We will then discuss, question and refine proposals.
Composition of Governing Body
Five parent governors Parents, including carers, of registered pupils at the school are eligible to stand for election for parent governorship at the school. Parent governors are elected by other parents at the school.
Three staff governors (Headteacher, Teacher and Non Teacher)
Both teaching and support staff paid to work at the school are eligible for staff governorship. Staff governors are elected by the school staff and must be paid to work at the school, volunteers are not eligible. Any election which is contested must be held by ballot.
Three Foundation governors
Foundation governors are appointed by the church.
Two LA appointed governors
Are appointed by the LA (Local Authority). LAs can appoint any eligible person as an LA governor.
Three Community governors
Are appointed by the governing body to represent community interests. Community governors can be persons who live or work in the community served by the school, or persons who do not work or live close to the school but are committed to the good governance and success of the school. The definition of community governor is wide and people from a business or professional background and minor authority representatives can be appointed as community governors.