The Role of the Governing Body
What Governors Do
The Governing Body provides strategic leadership and accountability at Copmanthorpe Primary School. Governors work with the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team to support the continued development of the school while providing appropriate challenge and oversight.
The day-to-day management of the school is the responsibility of the Headteacher and staff. Governors focus on the strategic direction of the school and its long-term development.
The Governing Body has three core 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 the effective and efficient performance management of staff
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure that its money is well spent
How Governors Work
The Full Governing Body meets regularly throughout the year to consider the school's priorities, educational performance, safeguarding, finances and other aspects of its strategic development.
Governors also work through focused groups and individual areas of responsibility. This enables them to look in greater depth at key aspects of the school's work and report back to the Full Governing Body.
Governors visit school as part of their monitoring role. This may include meeting with school leaders and staff, talking to pupils and seeing aspects of the school's work in practice. These visits help governors understand the impact of the school's priorities and provide appropriate support and challenge to leaders.
Strategic Leadership
Governors work with school leaders to establish the school's vision and strategic priorities and monitor progress towards them.
This includes considering the School Development Plan, reviewing information about pupil outcomes and the quality of education, overseeing safeguarding arrangements and ensuring that resources are used effectively to support the school's priorities.
Governors do not make decisions about the day-to-day running of the school. Their role is to ensure that leaders are held to account for the decisions they make and the impact these have on pupils.
Accountability
The Governing Body is accountable for ensuring that the school fulfils its statutory responsibilities and uses public resources appropriately.
Governors provide both support and challenge, asking appropriate questions of school leaders and using a range of evidence to evaluate the school's effectiveness and progress.
If you would like to find out more about the work of the Governing Body, please contact the school.
