Being a Governor

The Governing Body, with the headteacher, has overall responsibility for the running of the school. The role of a school governor is to contribute to the work of the school in ensuring high standards of achievement for all children and young people in the school by:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
• Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school, its pupils, and the performance management of staff; and
• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

Governors serve a four-year term of office and, under usual circumstances, can expect to spend 20 hours a year on governance duties. These include:

• Attending meetings of the GB, usually outside of school hours and contributing to GB business;
• Reading reports and papers and keeping up to date on the progress that the school is making; and
• Visiting the school from time to time during the school day.
• Some governors are Link Governors and they come into school and use their experience to look at specific areas, together with staff.

You will be expected to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and sign a governors’ Code of Conduct. Certain criteria disqualify nominees from accepting a role as a school governor.