The Role of the School Governor
The Governing Body has responsibility for raising school standards through three key roles:
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction.
- Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils.
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.
To raise standards, Governors do not need to be experts in education. It is their varied experience, time, energy and commitment that is valuable to the school.
Although the Governing Body has important powers and duties, it has limited time and resources. In addition the Governing Body employs professionals to run the school on a day-to-day basis. This is why the role of the Governing Body is strategic.
By helping to decide the school's strategy for improvement, the Governing Body can make sure that pupils can learn effectively and achieve the highest standards.
The Governing Body should help to set the broad framework within which the Headteacher and staff should run the school. It can do this by:
- Setting aims and objectives for the school.
- Adopting policies for achieving those aims and objectives.
- Setting targets for achieving those aims and objectives.
Once the framework has been defined, the Governing Body should review performance against targets.
The Governing Body holds the Headteacher and staff to account for the performance of the school. The Headteacher and staff report to the Governing Body on the school's performance.
Maintained schools are also accountable to the Local Authority.
Academies are also accountable to the Education Funding Agency and to the Secretary of State for Education.
All schools are also held accountable by Ofsted (the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills).
A governor:
- should attend meetings of the full Governing Body and must act with honesty and integrity.
- must be ready to explain the Governing Body's actions and decisions to staff, pupils, parents and anyone with a legitimate interest in the school.
- can also decide to give extra time to the school. Your school will offer you advice on the additional ways in which you can get involved, for example, by visiting the school, joining a Governing Body committee or participating in other activities.
The Governing Body must:
- Ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
- Hold the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils
- Oversee the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent