The Governors’ Role

How many Governors?

The Governing Board (GB) currently has 10 Governors: 2 parents, 1 member of staff, the Headteacher and 6 co-opted members from the local community.

A governor’s term of office is normally 4 years but there is no restriction to reappointment, with the exception of parent governors’ who would have to seek re-election after their four year term, if they wished to continue.

What are Governors responsible for?

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

Good Governance means having:

  • governors with the necessary skills, time, commitment, and diversity of perspectives
  • clear separation between strategic and operational roles
  • positive relationships between the GB and school leaders
  • support and advice of an independent professional clerk
  • robust processes for financial planning and oversight
  • processes for regular self-evaluation, skills audit and training

Governor Responsibilities

Following the school’s decision to join the Wessex Multi Academy Trust (MAT), the governors have taken on responsibility for oversight of the progress of the School Development Plan (SDP) so they can more effectively support and challenge the school’s performance.  Additionally other governors are responsible for Safeguarding, Health and Safety and other areas of school life.

 

The areas of responsibility that Governors focus on are as in the SDP:

  • Priorities for Raising the Quality of Education, including the curriculum, high expectations, meeting needs of students, progress of disadvantaged boys and literacy standards across the school.
  • Priorities for Behaviour and Attitudes, including attendance, school values, attitudes towards learning, suspensions and permanent exclusions.
  • Priorities for Personal Development, including a safe and secure environment, building resilience and confidence, extending leadership opportunities.
  • Priorities for Leadership and Management, including consistent performance across all subject areas, staff well-being, developing the governing body, engaging with parent community, student numbers and finance.
  • Priorities for the Sixth Form, including ensuring raising subject performance, enriching the curriculum, relevance of curriculum offer.

 

Governor visits

Governors will visit the school to discuss with key staff the areas of their responsibility.  Governor visits are designed to help move the school forward by creating a dialogue with school leaders and establishing enduring professional relationships with the senior team and other staff.

Governor visits (essentially fact-finding exercises) are carried out in set periods of time prior to Full Governing Body meetings (FGB) and each area of their responsibility is covered twice during the school year.  Governors report their visits to the FGB. Reports usually include what was discussed and identify the strengths of the school and areas for development.

Governor committees (ad-hoc, meeting when required)

 STAFF APPOINTMENTS: to act on behalf of the governing body in all matters relating to the appointment of staff.

A non-teaching Governor will be invited to assist the Headteacher in the appointment of senior staff.  The appointment of the Headteacher must involve at least 3 Governors, and the appointment must be confirmed by the full Governing Body.

At least one governor should have completed Safer Recruitment training (on-line).

HEADTEACHER PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT: to act on behalf of the governing body in all matters relating to the performance of the Headteacher

Three governors not including the Headteacher or a staff governor.  Advised by the school’s School Improvement Partner (SIP)

STAFF APPEALS: to act on behalf of the governing body in all matters relating to the discipline of staff, and the variation or termination of their contracts.

Three governors not including the Headteacher or a staff governor.

STUDENT DISCIPLINE

To consider the exclusion of a student, having regard for the Secretary of State’s guidance on exclusions.

Three or more governors, one of who shall be the Chair or Vice Chair, but not including the Headteacher.

STUDENT DISCIPLINE APPEALS

To consider an appeal against the exclusion of a student.

No less than four governors (and always one more than served on the Student Disciple Committee immediately preceding) one of whom shall be the Chair or Vice Chair.  Those eligible shall be all governors other than teacher governors, the Head teacher and those who have served on the Student Discipline Committee immediately preceding the Appeals Committee.

ADMISSIONS

To consider all matters relating to admissions.

The Headteacher and at least two other governors.