Why have Governing Bodies?
To help schools provide the best possible education for their pupils by:
- thinking and working strategically to help to raise standards
- monitoring and evaluating progress towards the school’s priorities and targets
- supporting the headteacher and staff as well as challenging their expectations
- accounting to all stakeholders for the school’s overall performance and for the decisions they have made
Role of Governors
There are three interwoven strands:
- to take a largely strategic role in the running of the school
- to act as a critical friend to the school
- to ensure accountability of the governing body to the parents and of the headteacher to the governing body
The responsibilities and powers have to be exercised in partnership with the headteacher and staff.
Governors should not intervene in the day-to-day running of the school. When there are weaknesses in the school they have a duty to take action. Getting the balance is not always easy.