Welcome to our Governors' section.
The Governing Body and its Role
School governors are drawn from different parts of the community and can be parents and staff or from the LA, the community and other groups. This helps ensure the governing body has sufficient diversity of skills, views and experience but does not mean governors of a particular category represent that group on the governing body. For example, parent governors do not represent the parents at the school and do not report back to them.
Governors are the strategic leaders of our schools and have a vital role to play in making sure every child gets the best possible education. In all types of schools, governing bodies should have a strong focus on three core strategic functions:
1. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
2. Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils;
3. Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.
When a school is inspected by Ofsted, its governing body will be required to show evidence that governors conform with their three core functions.
In the work that they do, a governors’ essential focus is on:
Another aspect of the governors role has traditionally been referred to as being a ‘critical friend’ of the school whereby in addition to the duties laid out above governors can and should also:
Parent governors are:
Well placed to understand parents’ views and to remind the governing body how matters being discussed affect parents
In a good position to help the governing body to communicate effectively with parents
Parent governors are not:
Expected to gather the views of other parents and take them to the governing body
Only expected to represent the interests of parents
Expected to vote as instructed by other parents
How Does the Governing Body Meet Their Responsibilities?
Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the effective and efficient performance management of staff
Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent
Safeguarding
The Governing Body has a clear focus on keeping our children safe - through setting safeguarding policies, ensuring they are implemented and monitored effectively, and fostering an environment where concerns can be raised.
Equalities
The Governing Body support and challenge the school to continuously strive to ensure that everyone, in our school and wider community, is treated with respect and dignity. In our school each person will be given fair and equal opportunities to develop their full potential regardless of their gender, transgender, ethnicity, culture and religious background, sexuality, disability, or special educational needs and ability. The school actively promotes equality and fosters positive attitudes and commitment to an education for equality.
Two of the above Governors have submitted a positive 'Declaration of Interest'. They are also Governors at West Bridgford Junior School.
All Governors have voting rights on decisions made by their Committee or at the Full Governing Body Meeting. The exception to this is that staff governors have no voting rights on any matters concerning staff pay or terms and conditions.
No Governor is related to any member of staff.
All of our Governors currently serve a term of office of 4 years (except the Headteacher who is a Governor for the duration of the appointment)