What Do School Governors Actually Do?
School governors play an important role in schools in the UK. They are volunteers who help set the strategic direction of the school and hold school leaders to account for its educational and financial performance. Here is an overview of what school governors do:
Providing Strategic Leadership
One of the main responsibilities of school governors is to provide strategic leadership. This involves setting the vision, ethos and strategic direction of the school. Governors work with the headteacher and senior leadership team to develop long-term plans and policies to guide the school’s development. They monitor progress and review the strategic framework regularly to ensure it remains fit for purpose.
Setting the Budget
The board of governors has a key role in financial oversight. Governors approve the annual school budget and three-year financial plan, ensuring funding is allocated properly to support educational outcomes. They monitor spending throughout the year and ensure the school is operating in a financially sustainable way. Governors often form finance committees to provide close budgetary scrutiny.
Monitoring Educational Performance
A core function of governors is holding school leaders to account for educational standards and pupil achievement. Governors regularly review pupil progress and attainment data. They compare the school’s performance against national standards and similar schools. Governors identify strengths to celebrate and areas requiring improvement, ensuring the school has clear plans in place for raising standards.
Ensuring Compliance and Best Practice
Governors have an important compliance role, ensuring the school meets all legal and regulatory requirements. This includes overseeing safeguarding procedures, health and safety policies, inclusion practices and other statutory duties. Governors also promote best practice in areas like curriculum design, assessment methods and pastoral support. They may form committees focusing on compliance in specific areas.
Supporting the Headteacher
While governors hold the headteacher to account, they also provide support and guidance. Governors act as a sounding board, providing advice and feedback. They may mentor new headteachers to help them establish strong leadership. During challenges, governors provide the headteacher with perspective and counsel. Good working relationships between governors and headteachers are essential.
Representing Parents and the Community
Governors provide an important link between the school and the parent community. Parent governors voice parent perspectives during decision-making. Community governors represent local residents and organisations who may use school facilities. Staff governors reflect staff views. Effective governors gather stakeholder feedback and ensure the school is responsive to community needs.
Recruiting New Governors
To operate effectively, the governing board needs committed, skilled governors from diverse backgrounds. Governors are responsible for succession planning and recruiting new governors with required capabilities. They identify skill gaps and target recruitment at groups underrepresented on the board. Good boards have a balance between new and experienced governors.
Developing Governor Expertise
Being a school governor requires certain competencies around areas like finance, data analysis and compliance. Governors are expected to participate in regular training to build and update their skills. Boards evaluate governor performance and training needs through annual self-review. Experienced governors provide mentoring and induction for newer recruits. Some schools also turn to external Expert Governance Services for Schools by LDNGOV’s Board of Governors to further develop their expertise.
As you can see, school governors have a complex, multi-faceted role. They provide strategic oversight, financial control, performance monitoring and community representation. Good governance is crucial for school success.
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