Information on

We hope that the information given here will provide you with an idea of what we do and how we support the school. As volunteers, we do try our very best to get into school and participate in all aspects of school life as much as we can. Each of us has at least one subject area and one class that we are linked too. We also belong to various sub-committees. We do enjoy our visits to school and find these to be very interesting, rewarding and at times offers us some challenge too. If you see us around, please do say hello.

Our governing body is made up of people representing all the different stakeholders in our school such as parents, staff, the local community and the local authority. This group of people works together as a corporate body with no one person having any greater voting rights than any other (this includes the Headteacher and Chair of Governors).

The responsibilities of the whole governing body can be broken down into three main headings:

All of these things together mean that the governing body and the senior leaders of a school have a shared set of values and a shared vision of where the school is going. The governors all have a good understanding of the strengths and areas for development of the school. They are fully involved in deciding how the school will build on its strengths and tackle areas for development. The governors are challenging and supporting of the senior leadership team and everyone has a clear view of their own respective roles and responsibilities.

Ofsted (which inspects schools) sees the governing body as part of the leadership team in school and will be looking for a partnership where there is frankness and mutual respect. The Ofsted handbook for inspecting schools states that ‘creativity and dynamism in reflecting upon performance, promoting change and capitalizing on links with the local community will suggest excellent governance’.

The task of being a governor is not easy but there is lots of help, training and advice available if and when required. No one works alone as a governor but is always part of a team. North Lincolnshire Authority provides excellent training for governors which ensures a greater understanding of the role of governors and enables governors to become more confident and effective. Local Authority officers are available to offer professional advice and guidance to governors and your governor mentor will be able to supply you with the name and contact details of the local authority officer with responsibility for Governors.

It is not the intention for governors to be shadow professionals. No amount of training could equip governors with the skills and knowledge of the many professional disciplines – finance, personnel, curriculum, management etc. which the role of the governor could encompass.

The role of a school governor is to:

• Support the school but not uncritically
• Explain its policies to parents and the community, but not blindly
• Watch its standards, but with care, humility and an open mind
• Oversee its policies and its use of resources, but not in tiresome details
• Help to settle its disputes, fairly and consistently

All of the above roles should be carried out as a governing body, not as an individual governor, and in such matters, governors need to act with a knowledge and understanding of the school.

An effective governor finds out about the school, keeps up to date with current educational ideas and issues, attends meetings and training and builds up good relationships.

Parents and staff governors are not delegates but represent, in the very broadest sense, the groups that elected them, making decisions and casting their votes, having heard the discussion, as individuals.

Governors Allowance