Role of the Governors

What is a school’s Governing Body?

All schools have a Governing Body, which is responsible for overseeing many of the strategic decisions of the school. The Governing Body has a range of powers and duties laid down by various Education Acts. In the main these responsibilities relate to:

Setting targets and promoting high standards of education
Setting the strategic framework within which the school operates
Being part of the schools senior leadership team and to be strategic in their thinking e.g monitoring the progress of all groups of children, evaluating the impact of the school’s curriculum and promoting good teaching and learning.
Acting as a ‘critical friend’. A ‘critical friend’ offers support, constructive advice, a sounding board for ideas, a second opinion on proposals and help where needed. However a ‘critical friend’ may also challenge, ask questions, seek information, improve proposals and so arrive at the best solution for the pupils, staff and whole school community.
Making decisions on the school’s budget and staffing;
Being accountable for the performance of the school to parents and the wider community;
Ensuring that the curriculum for the school is balanced and broadly based
Ensuring that Health and Safety and Safeguarding policy and procedures are followed and embedded.
Approval of all school policies;
Making sure the school provides for all its pupils, including those with special educational needs.

The Governing Body works in close partnership with the Headteacher, staff and the Local Authority. Whilst the headteacher is responsible for the day to day running of the school, the governors are involved, for example with such things as staffing, curriculum, health and safety, safe guarding, school buildings and finance. It ensures the school functions well and maintains the proper range of academic and social objectives. The Governing Body works as a team with shared responsibilities. Governors never make decisions on their own, nor do they act as individuals.

Membership

The school’s governing body comprises of 9 Governors:

2 parent governors – elected by other parents at the school;
1 staff governors – the Headteacher, plus one member of staff elected by their colleagues;
1 LA governors, appointed by the Telford & Wrekin Council;
2 co-opted governors, invited by the other governors to represent the wider community.
2 Trust Governors, invited by the other governors to represent the interests of the Beacon Trust
Head Teacher

Governors are appointed for a four year term. The chair and vice chair are appointed annually.  All governors participate in a voluntary capacity and do not receive any remuneration for their work as school governors.

Meetings and Structure

The full governing body usually meets twice a term. All governors attend both meetings. Individual governors also take on specific responsibilities e.g. linked to a subject area such as literacy or numeracy, or a focus area such as special educational needs (SEN) or child protection.

Code of Conduct

To view the agreed governors code of conduct, please click here.

Register of Business Interests

To view the Register of Business Interests, please click here