Acting similarly to a ‘board of directors’, the Governing Body maintains responsibility for the management, strategic planning and welfare of the whole school. The Headteacher of the school is responsible for day-to-day management of the school.
The role of the Governing Body is to
Governors must appoint the Headteacher, and may be involved in the appointment of other staff. Governors also have a role in monitoring the school’s progress and in setting annual targets for the school’s performance and for the Headteacher (and ensuring that the Headteacher sets targets for other staff). Governors must review school exclusions in certain circumstances and have the power to reinstate an excluded pupil or reduce the term of the exclusion (although not to increase it). We also monitor and evaluate the work of the school through a programme of visits. The whole Governing Body meets 6 times a year as well as the working groups meeting up to discuss specific areas which they are responsible for.
It is not just meetings; we are in constant communication with Mrs Chapman ensuring we are all working as a team to meet the school’s needs. This communication is really important to make sure as governors we are all aware of what is going on in and around school. Likewise it is important we talk to and hear from you parents and although you will have filled in questionnaires for us in the past, if you have anything you would like to discuss with the governors or questions you may like to ask please get in touch with us through the school office.
Doug Stack
Chair of Governors
School Governors – Overview
A school governor can be a parent, member of staff, community representative e.g. local business people, Local Education Authority appointed representative. Each governor brings to the role their own interests, personal strengths and diverse experiences.
Parent Governors
Parent Governors ensure that the viewpoint of parents is represented on the Governing Body, however they must not be thought of as direct representatives of the parents. They speak and act as individuals within the clearly defined roles and responsibilities of any school governor. Parents, including carers, of registered pupils at the school are eligible to stand for election as Parents Governors and are elected by other parents at the school. They do not have to stand down if their child leaves the school, though they may do so if they wish. Parent Governors may stand for re-election at the end of their term of office if they still qualify.
Local Authority Governor
Local Authority Governors (previously known as LEA Governors): nominated by the Local Authority.
Staff Governor
The governing body benefits from the representation of the staff of the school. It provides a different professional ‘voice’ from the Headteacher’s. Staff governors are not staff delegates, however, and do not have to express any views other than their own.
Co-opted Governor
They are appointed as a governor by the governing body and who, in the opinion of the governing body, have the skills required to contribute to the effective governance and success of the school.
Partnership Governor
Chambersbury is a Foundation School but is not part of a larger foundation therefore requires 2 partnership governors.
Associate Members
Associate members are not Governors but are appointed by the Governing board to bring expertise and experience in specific areas to committees. They may also attend full governing board meetings but do not have the a vote in the governing board decisions. However, they may be given a vote on decisions made by the committees to which they are appointed. The Governing Body determine their term of office on appointment however generally this is one year.