The main role and aim of the governing body is to maintain and improve the quality of education and the standards of achievement and attainment at the school. 

 A key role of the governors is to challenge and support the school leaders, holding them to account for their actions in ensuring pupil progress.

 Governors:

• Know the school and its strengths and weaknesses
• Know the pupils, their strengths and vulnerabilities
• Know the finances and approve the budget.
• Are strategic,making use of targets, budgets, appraisal, the school improvement plan and other success criteria.
• Have a vision with explicit high expectations for pupil attainment and achievement
• Act as business partner to the senior leadership team [SLT], making use of data and numerical targets , SMART objectives, appraisal and other mechanisms to hold theSLT to account
• Know the quality of teaching and all staffing
• Be completely sure that all health and safety and safeguarding requirements are in place and ideally exceeded
• Understand performance management systems, appraisal process and performance related pay.
• Validate their knowledge, making use of external verification and external data
• Ensure accountability

What does the Governing body do?

• Works with the Headteacher and all the staff  to make sure that the school provides a good quality of education for all its pupils. 
• We work in partnership with the Headteacher to set the strategic direction of the school.
• The school governors are like the Trustees of a charity or board of a company.
• Governors are not expected to and should not make day to day decisions about how the school is run.  That is the role of the Headteacher and his/her staff.
• Governors are expected to help the school raise standards and to support its ethos and vision.  They are also expected to be loyal to their school and the community it serves. 
• Anyone appointed will be expected to undertake training courses.

 What are Governing bodies in schools are accountable for?

• The use of public funds
• The quality of education provided- raising standards
• The wider contribution of the school to the community

 How long can you be a Governor for?

 Governors usually sign up for a four year term of office.  After that time they may be re-elected or re-appointed.

 Are you paid to be a Governor?

 Governors are volunteers and are only paid expenses for the work they do at the school.

 How can I become a school Governor?

There are over 300,000 school governors in England and they form the largest voluntary force in the country.  To be a governor, you do not need any specific skills or qualifications but you do need time, energy and a commitment to the education of children.  In addition to this, attributes that make a good school governor include:

• The ability to work as part of a team
• A desire to help the local community
• An external perspective
• A willingness to change assumptions
• The time to get involved.
• As a typical school governor, you can expect to spend at least six to eight hours a month on your duties.  Being a governor can be challenging but extremely rewarding: existing skills can be used but many new skills can also be gained.
• Appointments are subject to the completion of a Disclosure and Barring Service [DBS] check which will be made by the school.
• To be a parent governor you must have a child registered at the school at the time of your election.  If you child leaves during your term of office, you can remain as a parent governor until the end of your term of office.

You are disqualified from election or appointment as a parent governor if you are

• An elected member of the Local Authority
• Paid to work at the school for more than 500 hours in any consecutive 12 month period.