The governing body is responsible for the conduct of the school and must promote high standards of educational achievement at the school. In all types of schools, governing bodies should have a strong focus on three core strategic functions:
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
- Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff; and
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.
- In order to do this, governors need to gain knowledge of how their school operates through attending meetings, reading school documentation, analysing data and engaging in regular visits to the school.
The role of the governing body is one of oversight and it is not involved in the day to day management of the school. The headteacher role includes the educational performance of the school and operational responsibility lies with them.
How the Governing Body Works
- How the governing body is structured – Chair of Governors, 4 x Co-Opted Governors, 1 x LA Governor – non-affiliated, 2 x Parent Governors, 1 x Staff Governor, Headteacher and Clerk
- The frequency of meetings – A Full Governors meeting 5 times each academic year and is approximately 2-3 hours long. The two subcommittees, Finance, Pay & Personnel hold a meeting every half-term and these will range from 1-2 hours in length depending on the agenda
- Average time commitment including meetings, background reading and school visits approx. 5-10 hours per term.
- Expectations of training to attend regular governor training meetings as and when required.
- Code of Conduct
Different governing bodies operate in different ways, but governors will be expected to do far more than merely attend meetings. Effective governors attend the school regularly to see and understand how the school operates. They undertake governor visits for a particular purpose and produce reports for their governor colleagues. Governors will be expected to receive and understand reports from the headteacher and senior leaders so that they can question, challenge and support, thereby improving the quality of the whole educational provision.
The governing body operates a code of conduct which sets an ethos of professionalism and high expectations of governors. You will be provided with this as part of your induction into the school and will be expected to work within it, as a governing body operates as a corporate entity with corporate responsibility.