Governor Responsibilities

Governors have three statutory responsibilities as part of their strategic role

In all types of schools, governing bodies should have a strong focus on three core strategic functions:

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

Governors are appointed to provide

• strong links between the school and the community it serves
• a wide experience of the outside world
• an independent view
• a visible form of accountability for the headteacher and staff of the school
• a team focusing on long term development and improvement
• accountability to the community for the use of resources and the standards of teaching and learning in the school
• support for the headteacher and staff.

School governors are expected to

• attend the both relevant committee and Full Governing Body meetings
• show an interest in school activities, by for example, visits to the school, reading documentation etc.
• attend necessary training courses to ensure that the Governing Body are able to make informed decisions.
• attend the full governing body annual training.
• visit the school at least twice during school hours for governor business.
• provide as much notice as possible if they are unable to attend meetings to ensure that all Governor’s time is used efficiently and that decision making is not compromised. A minimum of one week is expected.
• ensure that they do not bring the school into disrepute and that they fulfil the role they have.
• share the responsibilities and work as a team.

In addition, individual governors will usually be involved in some of the following activities often through groups or committees which report back to the main body

• staff appointments
• the financial management of the school
• the curriculum
• liaising with parents and other stakeholders on behalf of the governing body

Governing bodies are the strategic planners of schools

• agrees policies and practice which allows the headteacher the necessary tools to carry out his/her responsibilities
• agrees principles and targets for improvement
• acts as the critical friend of the school and headteacher
• receives and discusses reports on the resulting practice and conduct of the school

And Finally..........

No one governor is expected to know it all. The strength of a governing body lies in its ability to attract and rely upon members from a wide variety of backgrounds, share out the duties amongst its members, and be able to take decisions as a group.