The Governing Body

When considering the powers, duties and responsibilities of the School's Governing Body as a whole, note must be taken of the following two-part definition contained in the 'Guide to the Law for School Governors' :

- 'the Governing Body has general responsibility for the conduct of the school with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement' (Section 21, Education Act 2002)

- 'Governors should act at all times with honesty and integrity and be ready to explain their actions and decisions to staff, pupils, parents and anyone with a legitimate interest in the school'.

Accountability

The second part of the overall definition is clearly stating that accountability is at the heart of school governance. In 'The Toolkit for Effective Governance, 2004', the purpose of accountability has been summarised in a very helpful way, as follows:

- assuring high standards of education
- ensuring value for public money by demonstrating efficient and appropriate allocation of resources
- ensuring effective school management and organisation
- ensuring that everything is done and everyone is operating to common, agreed aims and objectives

Individual Governors

Individual Governors at Davison CE High School for Girls would be expected to accept and carry out the following:

- to empathise with the Christian ethos of the school and its culture and to work positively to help sustain them

- to have a genuine interest, not only in the education of children and young people, but in all aspects of their welfare and personal development

- to bear in mind at all times the confidential nature of their role as a Governor

- to be challenging and enquiring of the school and fellow governors - to give appropriate support to the Leadership Team and fellow Governors in their management role

- to work as part of a team of Governors for the overall benefit of the School and all its various stakeholders

- to support the Headteacher in her leadership role by being a 'critical friend'

- to make every effort to attend meetings of the full Governing Body, with nine being held each year

- to be willing to join 'ad hoc' working groups when appropriate to do so

- to take a pro-active and challenging interest in the Subject Area/Department to which they have been linked, supporting the staff as required

- to take an active interest in all aspects of the School's life and work, making positive contributions when they are able to do so

- to ensure that they keep abreast of current trends and developments in education, in order to carry out their role as a Governor as effectively as possible; to this end, they should attend appropriate Training Courses whenever they are able to do so

Policy for Governors' Visits