The governing body is the school’s accountable body. It is responsible for the conduct of the school and for promoting high standards. The governing body aims to ensure that children are attending a successful school which provides them with a good education and supports their well-being.
The core functions of the governing body are executed through their attendance at regular committee meetings, together with individual visits which have a clearly defined purpose. These functions are best described as follows:
- Setting the strategic direction of the school by:
- Setting the values, aims and objectives for the school
- Agreeing the policy framework for achieving those aims and objectives
- Setting targets
- Agreeing the school improvement strategy which includes approving the budget and agreeing the staffing structure
- Challenges and supports the school by monitoring, reviewing and evaluating:
- The implementation and effectiveness of the policy framework
- Progress towards targets
- The implementation and effectiveness of the school improvement strategy
- The budget and the staffing structure
- Ensures accountability by:
- agreeing the school’s own self-evaluation report
- responding to Ofsted reports when necessary
- holding the head teacher to account for the performance of the school
- performance management of the head teacher
- ensuring parents and pupils are involved, consulted and informed as appropriate
- making available information to the community
