Governors
Roles & Responsibilities
School governors are ordinary people from the local community who wish to make a positive contribution to children’s education. They are the largest volunteer force in the country.
The Governing Body is responsible for overseeing many of the strategic decisions of the school and has an important part to play in raising school standards through acting as a “critical friend”-supporting, challenging and asking questions.
The Governing Body’s three key roles are
- Setting and ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
- Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its children, and the effective and efficient performance management of staff
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.
Schools need governors with a wide range of skills and interests, so almost anyone can become a school governor. New governors receive training and support from the school, the Local Authority, the LDBS and other governors.
St. Matthews Governing Body is drawn from various sections of the community.
- LA Governor x1
- Parent Governors x2
- Staff Governors x1
- Headteacher x1
- Foundation Governors x 7 :- 2xLDBS, 2xPCC, 2xEDS, 1xVicar Of Parish
Organisation of the Governing Body
The Governing Body works in close partnership with the Headteacher, staff, Local Authority and the London Diocesan Board for Schools. Whilst the Headteacher is responsible for the day to day running of the school, the governors are involved in strategic matters.
St. Matthews Governing Body meets 8 times each year (1 is a business meeting in September). The agenda is influenced by national changes and requirements, the Local Authority, LDBS and the school.
As of September 2023, St. Matthews full governing body will meet 2 or 3 times each term.
Each agenda may contain items relating to safeguarding, curriculum, teaching and learning, pupil progress, achievement and outcomes, pupil premium, attendance, well-being, equalities, the budget, finance, premises, health and safety, staffing and school policies.
Small groups of governors (panels) are involved with matters such as appointing a Headteacher, staff grievance and formal complaints procedures, whilst some individual governors have responsibilities for specific areas within the school, for example, safeguarding, special educational needs, Pupil Premium, Health & Safety and GDPR (data protection)
The organisational arrangements, agreed by the whole Governing Body at its business meeting in September every year, outline the specific responsibilities of the Full Governing Body and its panels.
Governors are required to
- Act in the best interests of the school
- Complete a “Declaration of Interests” register annually which is updated with any change in circumstance. They must also declare any conflicts of interest at the start of each meeting.
- Have an Enhanced DBS certificate (criminal record check processed by the Disclosure and Barring Service) New governors must apply for a check within 21 days of their appointment.
- Abide by the seven Nolan principles of public life.
- Attend meetings regularly.
October 2023