What we do
Role of a school governor:
To contribute to the work of the governing body in ensuring high standards of achievement for all children in the school by:
- setting the school's vision, ethos and strategic direction;
- holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils;
- overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.
As part of the governing body team, a governor is expected to:
- Contribute to the strategic discussions at governing body meetings, which determine:
- the vision and ethos of the school;
- clear and ambitious strategic priorities and targets for the school;
- that all children, including those with special educational needs, have access to a broad and balanced curriculum;
- the school's budget, including the expenditure of the pupil premium allocation;
- the school's staffing structure and key staffing policies;
- the principles to be used bu school leaders to set other school policies.
- Hold the senior leaders to account by monitoring the school's performance:
- agreeing the outcomes from the school's self-evaluation and ensuring they are used to inform the priorities in the school development plan;
- considering all relevant data and feedback provided on request by school leaders and external sources on all aspects of school performance;
- asking challenging questions of school leaders;
- ensuring senior leaders have arranged for the required audits to be carried out and receiving the results of those audits;
- ensuring senior leaders have developed the required policies and procedures and that the school is operating effectively according to those policies and procedures;
- acting as a link governor on a specific issue, making relevant enquiries of the relevant staff, and reporting to the governing body on the progress on the relevant school priority;
- listening to and reporting to the school's stakeholders: pupils, parents, staff, and the wider community (including local employers).
- Ensure the school staff have the resources and support they require to do their jobs well:
- including the necessary expertise on business management, external advice where necessary, effective appraisal and CPD (Continuing Personal Development) and suitable premises
- ensuring that the way in which those resources are used (and support given) has impact
- Serve on panels and committees of governors to:
- appoint the headteacher and other senior leaders;
- appraise the headteacher;
- set the headteacher's pay and agree the pay recommendations for other staff;
- hear the second stage of staff grievances and disciplinary matters;
- hear appeals about pupil exclusions.
