Governors’ Information and Duties

The role of the school governor and governing bodies

The role of the school governor is demanding but very rewarding and is a good way to give back to your local community. School governing bodies are responsible for working with the school to ensure that it delivers a good quality education. Together with the headteacher, who is responsible for day-to-day management, they help to set the school’s aims and policies.

Governors have three main roles:

• To provide strategic direction for the school
• To act as a critical friend to the headteacher
• To ensure accountability

They also carry out a number of other important duties, which include:

• Overseeing the appointment of staff
• Hearing appeals and grievances
• Helping to develop policy on the school’s curriculum and collective worship
• Overseeing measures from staff to manage pupils’ behaviour and discipline
• Monitoring school buildings so they are welcoming and safe
• Setting and monitoring the school’s aims and policies
• Our Governing Body is made up of members of local community as well as parents.

Who can be a school governor?

You do not have to have children at the school to be a governor. However, you do have to be over 18, and pass a formal check for your suitability to be within a school. No specific qualifications are required but there are certain expectations. What’s really important is that you have energy, enthusiasm, time and a real desire to help provide children with the best possible education. Governors come from all sections of the community, and all walks of life.

They can be parents, staff at the school, residents in the locality or representatives of local churches or businesses. It is important that you can work as part of a team, and can give commitment to the school. There are usually, depending on the size of the school, between 9 – 20 people who make up the governing body. Advice, support and training for the role is given by the council. Some governors are elected by parents, some are appointed by the governing body itself, the local authority or local churches. This ensures governing bodies reflect the communities they serve.

How do I become a school governor?

If you are interested in becoming a school governor, contact the headteacher to ascertain whether there are any vacancies.

Attendance record of the governing body and committee meetings over the last academic year can be seen below.v