Role of Governing Board
Role of the Governing Board
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE GOVERNING BOARD?
The governing board of the school has a number of functions. The Department for Education summarises them in this way: “In all types of schools, governing boards should have a strong focus on three core strategic functions:
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
- Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils; and
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.”
Present government policy is to give all schools more autonomy, and in the current climate the capacity of the Local Authority to monitor, support and challenge the school is being significantly reduced. At the same time the environment in which all schools operate is one of continuing change. This makes the role of the governing board even more important in terms of scrutiny, maintaining effective relationships with all parents and carers and other stakeholders, and in developing a vision and strategy for continuing, sustainable high standards, and a culture whereby Didsbury Road continues to be a reflective, forward looking professional community.
Governors don’t need to be experts on education, but they do need to be committed to making all discussion, scrutiny and decision making focussed on the best interests of children and be relentless in their determination to make the school vision a reality for all pupils. They do need to be able to get on with people and to be able to work as part of a team, but also be able ask the difficult questions when it’s necessary – and sometimes the easy questions too, like ‘why we do it like that?’ Governors, as volunteers, also need to be able to make time to come into school occasionally during the school day for purposeful visits, and to attend and contribute to evening meetings regularly – at least two meetings a term usually. It is also an expectation governors will undertake relevant training, which may be on line or face to face, and keep abreast of educational developments as they effect the school.
At Didsbury Road we take our voluntary role very seriously. Our expectations of each other are summarised in our governors’ charter, which is regularly reviewed and updated. Details of all current members of the governing board, our governors’ charter, committee membership and governors’ attendance records, as well as governors’ register of interests are all provided on this site. Should you wish to contact the chair of governors, you may do so care of the school, or by email at:
gov.lindsay.mccourt@didsburyroad.stockport.sch.uk