Governor's Structure

Structure and remit of the governing body

The purpose of the governing body is to provide confident, strategic leadership and to create robust accountability, oversight and assurance for educational and financial performance.

There are three core functions of the governing body:-

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

Committee Structure

The governing body has delegated certain operational matters to several committees; however the full governing body remains accountable and responsible for all decisions made.

Resources Committee

Finance

• To provide guidance and assistance to the Head teacher and the governing body on all financial issues, referring also to the Building and Health and Safety Committee.
• To recommend to the governing body internal financial regulations for the financial management of the school in accordance with guidance issued by the Authority.
• To consider budget plans presented by the Head teacher and to make recommendations to the governing body for approval.
• To consider budget monitoring reports relating to all public funds (i.e. school budget share and any other funds delegated and devolved by the LEA, including Standards Fund) and make recommendations to the governing body.
• To recommend virements between budget headings where the value is in excess of the sum delegated to the Head teacher under the school’s internal financial regulations.
• To consider and make recommendations on all finance policies of the school including those related to charges, lettings and income.
• To contribute to the School Development Plan including longer term resource requirements of the school.
• To consider the appropriate level of reserves and balances bearing in mind guidance produced by the Authority.
• To consider the annual audited accounts of all unofficial funds prior to presentation to the governing body.
• To consider audit reports and other relevant reports and make recommendations to the governing body.
• To contribute to the Annual Report to Parents.
• To consider and advise on any financial matter referred to it by the governing body.
• To respond, on behalf of the governing body, to any consultations relating to the Scheme of Delegation or the Funding of Schools.
• To prepare staff policies for approval by the governing body.
• In conjunction with the Head teacher, to draw up a staffing structure (teaching and non-teaching staff, posts of responsibility etc) and to review it annually.
• To ensure that all procedures relating to recruitment, selection and appointment of staff are in place and that they are kept under review following changes in legislation.
• To carry out all procedures for the appointment of new teaching staff (except Head teacher or deputy Head teacher) and key support staff, in accordance with agreed arrangements.
• To delegate to the Head teacher all provision of supply cover of under one term’s duration.
• To delegate to the Head teacher and one other committee members the appointment of all other support staff.
• To consult as required (e.g. over pay policy) with all staff or with recognised trade unions.
• To ensure that appropriate job descriptions are in place.
• To check that arrangements for staff performance management are in place and being developed.
• To monitor the programme of staff development and training and ensure that it meets the needs of the School Development Plan and of the staff.
• To receive regular reports on staff absence, if not already reported to the governing body.
• Review annually the unit total of the school and the effect, if any, on the ISR.

Buildings, Health and Safety 

• Prepare and review the Health and Safety Policy and advise, along with the Head teacher, the governing body with regard to its compliance with Health and Safety regulations.
• Study accident reports and statistics. Monitor fire drills and where appropriate, recommend and take advice on remedial action.
• Examine safety inspection records and make recommendations where remedial action is required.
• Analyse and implement information provided by the LEA
• Develop safe systems at work
• Determine risk assessments. Ensure that the school complies with Health and Safety regulations, including that a regular audit of risk assessment is undertaken and to take action where necessary.
• Promote and review safety culture. Promote co-operation between all employees at the school to achieve and to maintain a safe and healthy workplace for staff and pupils.
• Communicate health and safety issues to all concerned.
• To be mindful of the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.
• To determine arrangements for the approval of educational visits in the school in accordance with the LEA Policy and Guidelines.
• Identify training requirements.
• Act as a school safety forum.
• To exercise delegated responsibility for the condition, repair, extension or alteration of the premises.
• To inspect annually the premises and grounds and prepare a statement of priorities for maintenance and development for the approval of the governing body.
• To inspect annually, moveable items in the school and check that procedures are being followed.
• To advise the governing body on major projects deemed to be necessary or appropriate.
• To work with relevant partners and consultants to ensure that new buildings and improvements, as agreed with the governing body, are progressed, and where appropriate that the payments are made.
• To act on behalf of the governing body in monitoring the implementation and progress of all building plans.
• To monitor the maintenance and upkeep of the school premises and grounds.
• Where it is the responsibility of the governing body, to make recommendations to the governing body on the appointment of consultants or the providers of the premises related services.
• To determine the use of school premises outside school session time including advice to the governing body on a possible charging policy which must be determined by the governing body.
• To provide support and guidance to the Headteacher on all matters relating to the school premises and grounds, security and Health and Safety.
• To ensure that arrangements are in place for the dissemination of Health and Safety information to all building users, including staff, pupils and visitors.

Curriculum and Standards/Pupil Welfare Committee

The main function of the Committee is to advise the Headteacher and Governing Body on matters concerning the school curriculum, standards and effectiveness and pupil welfare, in particular:

Curriculum

• To ensure that the curriculum, assessment and monitoring  provided meets the statutory requirements, including those for reporting.
• To review the aims of the school curriculum in relation to Curriculum 2000 requirements, Religious Education, Collective Worship and Sex Education.
• To advise on ways in which governors can be involved in curriculum aspects of the School Development Plan.
• To prepare or review any curriculum policy document which is the responsibility of the Governing Body.
• To make recommendations to the Governing Body on assessment policies, or arrangements.
• To consider all the available data provided by the school and the LEA and to set and publish targets within the statutory time frames.
• To monitor pupil progress in relation to the targets set and with specific reference to particular groups.
• To monitor the impact of curriculum policies and planning on students’ learning.
• To receive reports from the nominated governors, as decided by the whole Governing Body.
• To determine the arrangements for the approval of educational visits in the school in accordance with LEA policy and guidelines.
• To be mindful of the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.

Pupil Welfare

• To contribute to the review of the Behaviour Policy and to make recommendations to the Governing Body.
• To receive regular reports from the Headteacher on pupil behaviour matters; behaviour, the School Council, response to children’s needs and exclusions.
• To contribute to the review of the anti-bullying policy.

Standards and Effectiveness 

The main function of the Committee is to advise the Headteacher and Governing Body on matters concerning the school standards in relation to pupil attainment and progress, in particular:

• To ensure that the standards provided meets the statutory requirements, including those for reporting.
• To advise on ways in which governors can be involved in monitoring standards in school.
• To prepare or review any policy document related to standards & effectiveness such as the assessment policy which is the responsibility of the Governing Body.
• To make recommendations to the Governing Body on assessment policies, or arrangements.
• To consider all the available data provided by the school and the LEA and to set targets for each year group.
• To monitor pupil progress in relation to the targets set and with specific reference to particular groups.
• To monitor the impact of policies and planning on students’ progress and attainment.
• To receive reports from the nominated governors, as decided by the whole Governing Body.
• To be mindful of the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.

Categories of governors

Parent governors  

Parent governors are elected by other parents at the school. Subject to disqualifications set out below, any parent which includes a person with parental responsibility, or carer, of a registered pupil at the school at the time of election is eligible to stand for election as a parent governor. Parent governors may continue to hold office until the end of their term of office even if their child leaves the school.

Staff governors

Teaching and support staff who, at the time of election, are employed by either the governing body or the local authority to work at the school under a contract of employment, are eligible to be staff governors.

Staff governors are elected by this same category of school staff. They cease to hold office when they cease to be employed at the school.

The headteacher

The headteacher is a member of the governing body by virtue of their office.

The headteacher may at any time resign as a governor, and withdraw their resignation, in both cases by notifying the clerk in writing.

Local authority governors

Local authority governors are nominated by the local authority but appointed by the governing body. The local authority can nominate any person who is eligible to be a local authority governor, but it is for the governing body to decide whether their nominee has the skills required to contribute to the effective governance and success of the school and meets any other eligibility criteria they have set. Local authorities should therefore make every effort to understand the governing body’s requirements and identify and nominate suitable candidates..

Foundation governors  

Foundation governors are either appointed or take the role by virtue of an office that they hold.

Where appointed, the appointment is made by the person identified in the instrument of government (usually the school’s founding body, church or an organisation other than a local authority). A foundation governor is someone who, in the opinion of the person entitled to appoint them, has the skills to contribute to the effective governance and success of the school, and would be capable of achieving the purpose for which he/she is appointed which is securing:

• in all cases, that the school’s character (including religious character where it has one) is preserved and developed; and
• that the school (if it has a foundation) is conducted in accordance with the foundation’s governing documents.

Term of office

The term of office for all categories of governor is a fixed period of four years.

A governor may be elected or appointed for a further term.