Role and responsibilities of the Governing Body

Responsibilities of the Governing Body

The responsibilities of the governing body are defined by legislation. The DfES Governor’s Guide to the Law addresses governors’ responsibilities in detail. A copy of this is available on CD in your school or from the Governors' Support Team.

The main areas addressed in the guide are as follows:

Curriculum, including target setting
Religious education
Collective worship
Special Education Needs
Finance
School staffing
School premises;
Discipline and attendance
School admissions
All school policies.

Roles of the Governing Body

The main aim of the governing body is to maintain and improve its school’s standards of education.

Its work can be divided into three key areas:

Setting the school's vision and strategic aims, agreeing plans and policies, and making creative use of resources.
Monitoring and evaluating performance, acting as a critical friend to the Headteacher to support and challenge them in managing the school.
Ensuring that the school is accountable to the children and parents it serves, to its local community, to those who fund and maintain it, as well as to the staff it employs.

Therefore as a governor you should: -

Give support, advice and help to the school
Take a real pride in the school and the achievements of its pupils and staff
Work on and agree general school policies and the school’s own Improvement Plan
Work in partnership with the staff for the benefit of the school
Visit the school during the school day in order to gain a clear understanding of the working of the school
Give advance notice of your intention to visit the school, if only to be certain that the most appropriate members of staff are available
Maintain confidentiality – from time to time items of a confidential nature will be discussed and it is essential that confidentiality is maintained
Never comment to the press, LA Officers or Councillors, gossip in the community, or challenge members of staff even though feelings are strong over a particular issue. In the first instance you should report any concerns or fears direct to the Head and/or the Chair
Refrain from using your privileged position as a governor to discuss or gain an advantage for your children. If you wish to discuss your children, then you should approach the school in the same way as any other parent
Study recommendations made by the Head and staff, question the recommendations, and be constructive in any criticism
Accept and act on collective decisions of the governing body
Join with staff dealing with current issues of importance, particularly where a lay opinion would be an advantage (for example, ethnic minority governors can have a particular role in making schools aware of equal opportunities and cultural issues)
Visit other schools, meet with other Heads, talk to other governors, read the educational press, so that a wider knowledge of the education system is gained
Take every opportunity to promote the school in all aspects
Participate in the appointment of staff both at the short listing and at interview and selection stages
Participate in school activities in particular those which promote the school
Participate in training sessions – listen to what is happening in other schools and nationally to identify any improvements you could suggest to your governors
Be prepared to examine critically the school’s accounts and budget statements and participate in discussions and decision making in all areas of the school’s finances.

School exclusions

From time to time it is necessary to exclude pupils for unacceptable behaviour. Such exclusions can be short term or permanent and parents/guardians have the right to appeal to the governors.

Governors would then be asked to listen to evidence from pupils, parents and the school staff in order to ensure fairness and appropriateness of any sanction which the Headteacher had given.