The role of Governors

The central role of the school’s governing body as stated in law is to:

“Conduct the school with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement at the school”

Raising standards of pupil achievement through school improvement is the key purpose of school governance, and everything should be conducted with this in mind.

This is achieved in three main ways:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction

Agreeing long term aims and vision of where the school wants to be now and in the future, understanding how to achieve these aims, and evaluating how effective the school is in delivering its vision.

• Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff

Monitoring and evaluating the school’s effectiveness in terms of pupil achievement and the quality of teaching, challenging to support and promote improvements in educational performance, and ensuring that rigorous and high quality performance management is in place for all staff.

• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent

Agreeing budget and expenditure priorities and monitoring delivery against plans, evaluating financial performance to ensure value for money and optimal deployment of resources.