Role of Governors in Locks Heath Junior School

 

School Governors are one of the country's largest voluntary groups with around 300,000 contributing to strategic development and raising standards of achievement at more than 30,000 schools. Governors are members of their School's Governing Body, which is known as a 'Corporate Body'.  A Corporate Body has a legal identity that is separate from its members and as a result, individual Governors are generally protected from personal liability as a result of the Governing Body's decisions and actions provided they act honestly, reasonably and in good faith.

Individual Governors have no power or right to act on behalf of the Governing Body except where the whole governing body has delegated a specific function to that individual or where regulations specify a function is to be exercised in a particular way.

 

School Governors are drawn from different parts of the community, and at Locks Heath Junior School our Governing Body is made up of staff, parents, nominated people on behalf of the LA, and members of the Community. This helps ensure the Governing Body has sufficient diversity of views and experience but does not mean Governors of a particular category represent that group on the Governing Body. For example, Parent Governors do not represent the parents at the school and do not report back to them.

 

Responsibilities

As with all Governing Bodies, our Governing Body has a range of duties and powers and a general responsibility for the conduct of the school with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement.  Our responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• setting targets for pupil achievement;
• managing the school's finances; 
• making sure the curriculum is balanced and broadly based;
• appointing staff;
• reviewing staff performance and pay.

 

We have considerable discretion as to how to discharge responsibilities, but we are required to constitute ourselves in line with the regulations and to appoint a Chair and Vice Chair. The Governing Body may delegate certain of its responsibilities to certain Governors or Committees of Governors, although in general, it is not compelled to do so.

There are a wide range of roles and actions the Governing Body or Individual Governors need to consider:

Constitution of the Governing Body – the Governing Body must be constituted in line with the School Governance (Constitution) (England) Regulations 2003. These regulations cover the number and type (category) of Governors that make up the Governing Body.

Terms of reference of the Governing Body – more information can be found on the Department of Education website about the different categories, roles and committees that can be involved with being a governor.
 

Within Locks Heath Junior School we have the following main Committees: 

• Resources – responsible for budgets and finances within the school, as well as  personnel.
• School Improvement – responsible for the Curriculum, School  Improvement / Development and related policies that directly affect the children.
• Site Management - responsible for the buildings, grounds.

 

We also have the following Working Parties: 

Role of the Governing Body

– linking a Governor to each year or specific function.

Sponsorship 
- looking at ways that the school can bring in additional funds via support from the local community or industry.

 Website/Communications
– looking at ways to ensure efficient communication.

Performance Management 
– review and setting of staff individual objectives/targets.

Policies 
– overall review of policies and procedures.

Swimming pool 
- review of pool charges, bookings and clubs.