Governors

Governors

Thank you for visiting the Governors’ section of our website, which aims to briefly explain who the Foxton Primary School Governing Body is, and what it does.

Why have Governing Bodies?

Governors help schools provide the best possible education for their pupils by: thinking and working strategically to help to raise standards, monitoring and evaluating progress towards the school’s priorities and targets, supporting the Headteacher and staff, as well as challenging their expectations.

Objectivity and impartiality: At each meeting the governors declare if they have any pecuniary interests linked to the matters to be discussed. None of the governors are linked to any busineses that would profit from the school but on occasions may declare a more direct personal interest in some matters. None of our governors have governance roles in other schools.

The Role of Governors

There are three interwoven strands:

• to take a largely strategic role in the running of the school

• to act as a critical friend to the school

• to ensure accountability of the Governing Body to the parents and of the Headteacher to the Governing Body

The responsibilities and powers have to be exercised in partnership with the Headteacher and staff.

The Governing body works closely with the headteacher concerning the management of the school, and is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the school. The Governors have a general responsibility for the effective management of the school but do not take decisions about the day to day running of the school; this responsibility lies with the Headteacher.

The Governing Body is here to support the school and is made up of a group of eleven individuals from a variety of backgrounds. Some of the governors are parents and staff, and some come from the wider community or the local authority. This mix provides a wealth of experience and views. The Full Governing Body meets once every half term. In addition, our governors also form the following sub committees, which again meet at least once every half term, and in some instances many more times:

• Finance Committee: responsible for managing the school budget (salaries, fuel costs, rates, repairs and maintenance)

• Personnel Committee: responsible for staff issues

• Teaching & Learning Committee: responsible for monitoring the curriculum

• Premises Committee: principally responsible for Health and Safety of the school

• The minutes of the Full Governors’ meetings are available to all parents.

The Governing Body have specific responsibility in a number of areas including:

• Curriculum and conduct of the school

• Children with special educational needs

• Overseeing the school budget

• Appointment and disciplinary procedures with regard to staff

• Discipline and attendance of pupils

• Community use of the school

Our Governing Body

If you would like to contact the Governing Body, you can do so via the school office.  Please note that many issues should normally be raised with the school staff in the first instance, but if you are not sure how to proceed we will be pleased to advise and look forward to hearing from you.