Heymann Primary School

Why does the school have a Governing Body?

The school has a Governing Body to ensure that it has the capacity to improve and raise overall standards.

Ofsted considers the governing body to be part of the leadership and management of the school. However governors do not manage the school. That is the job of the head teacher and management team. Governors are there to be “a critical friend” to the head teacher and the school.

How do the Governors achieve this?

The Governors achieve this by:

Receiving information about the school’s performance and comparing it with past performance, national averages and ‘similar schools’
Contributing to the school self-evaluation process
Establishing where the school’s strengths and weaknesses are
Deciding the priorities for improvement
Discussing and approving the school’s targets and timescales
Ensuring that the school has a School Improvement Plan (SIP) that sets out all the actions to be taken
Monitoring that implementation of the SIP, largely by receiving reports from the head teacher
Evaluating progress and achievements

What are the powers and duties of the Governing Body?

Standards - securing high standards of educational achievement
Targets - setting appropriate targets for pupil achievement at Key Stage 2
Curriculum - ensuring breadth and balance, and delivery of the National Curriculum (including Foundation Stage and RE)
Reporting results - reporting on assessments and examination results
Policies - deciding how, in broad strategic terms, the school should be run
Performance management - carrying out the performance management process for the head teacher
Finance - determining how to spend the budget allocated to the school
Staffing - deciding on number of staff, the pay policy and making decisions on staff pay
Appointments - appointing the head and deputy head teacher and other staff
Special Educational Needs - ensuring the governing body’s responsibilities are carried out
Discipline - agreeing procedures for staff conduct and discipline
Inspection - agreeing and monitoring the school’s Self-Evaluation Form