Governors

The core functions of the governing body include the following:

• Ensuring that the vision, ethos and strategic direction of the school are clearly defined;
• Ensuring that the Headteacher performs his or her responsibilities for the educational performance of the school;
• Ensuring the sound, proper and effective use of the school's financial resources.

The School Governance Regulations 2013

Strategic direction:

• Governors have important powers and duties and should focus on making sure every child gets the best possible education;
• Building a supportive and productive relationship with the Headteacher, while holding them to account for the school performance;
• Making decisions in light of objective data;
• To challenge school to bring about improvement and to hold leaders accountable for their performance;
• Evaluate their own performance and improve as a governing body​​​​​​​;
• Establishing the long term vision for a school​​​​​​​;
• Agree the strategic improvement priorities and check on progress​​​​​​​;
• Developing the character/ethos of the school.

Challenge & Support

Asking the right questions:

• Performance of pupils - all pupils, groups of pupils​​​​​​​;
• Quality of teaching - whole school approach to pay reform and performance related to the quality of teaching​​​​​​​;
• Wellbeing of pupils - positive culture, bullying, safeguarding, listening to pupils and parents​​​​​​​;
• Leadership throughout the school - Senior/Middle leaders​​​​​​​;
• Impact of development​​​​​​​;
• Progress and impact of the School Improvement Plan.

Supporting the Head

Critical friend - support, advice, expertise and information - promotes interest of school and its pupils, commitment to raising standards.

OFSTED and Governance

OFSTED look at the effectiveness of Governance including how well governors:

• Ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction​​​​​​​;
• Contribute to the school's self evaluation and understand its strengths and weaknesses including the impact of their own work​​​​​​​;
• Support and strengthen school leadership including by developing their own skills​​​​​​​​​​​​​;
• Provide challenge and hold the headteacher and other senior leaders to account for improving the quality of teaching, pupils' achievement and pupils' behaviour and safety, including by using the data dashboard, other progress data, examination outcomes and test results​​​​​​​;
• Use performance management systems, including the performance management of the headteacher, to improve teaching, leadership and management​​​​​​​;
• Ensure solvency and probity and that the financial resources made available to the school are managed effectively​​​​​​​;
• Operate in such a way that statutory duties are met and priorities are approved​​​​​​​;
• Engage with key stakeholders​​​​​​​;
• Use the pupil premium and other resources to overcome barriers to learning, including reading, writing and mathematics.

OFSTED School Inspection Handbook, Sept 2013

Governor Information