Governors

All school governors contribute to the work of the governing body in ensuring high standards of achievement for all children and young people in the school by:-

• Setting the school’s vision, ethos and strategic direction;
• Holding the Principal to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils; and
• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

Parent governors are elected by other parents at the school. They must be a parent or legal guardian of a child on the school roll at the time of their election. If their children leave the school before their term of office ends, they may continue to serve out their term of office if they so wish.

All governors are equal and parent governors, along with all other types of governor, take part in all aspects of the work of the governing body providing they do not have a personal interest in the item under discussion. Objectivity is however essential and it is important to remember that you are there to promote the interests of all children, not your own.

A parent governor holds the unique position of having direct experience of the curriculum and how the school is perceived from a parent’s point of view. You will be able to bring this perspective when contributing to the governing body’s strategic management of the school.

Although elected by parents, parent governors are not representative governors and are there to express their own views as a parent. They should, however, report widely held parent views, even if in a vote their own individual view is different.

Parent governors sometimes find that they are approached by parents who wish to make a complaint against the school. As a parent governor, your involvement should only be to refer the parent concerned to the Principal, or the Chair of Governors as appropriate.

You may also find that parents will ask for information on what has been discussed and/or agreed at governors’ meetings. The governing body as a whole has a responsibility for communicating with parents, rather than individual governors. As a parent governor, you might find it helpful if the governing body decide what can be reported back to parents verbally or via other methods of communication, such as the school newsletter, website or a letter from the Chair of Governors or Principal, as appropriate.

As an effective parent governor you:

• Help to decide the priorities for improving the school;
• Make yourself available to parents and listen to other parents’ opinions and take account of them as you contribute to governors’ decisions;
• Work in partnership with the principal, senior leadership team and cooperatively with other governors to raise standards and improve outcomes for all children;
• Prepare for meetings by reading papers beforehand;
• Take responsibility for your own learning and development as a governor including attending training;
• Attend full governing body and relevant committee meetings promptly, regularly, and for the full time;
• Read briefings and newsletters for governors;
• Present a balanced view of issues representing different sections of the community;
• Promote the interests of the school in the wider community;
• Be loyal to the decisions made by the governing body;
• Respect the confidentiality of governing body affairs;
• Never promise to ‘solve a problem’ on your own;
• Never press your own child’s case at the expense of others;
• Declare an interest and withdraw from any meeting where you, a partner or close relative or associate stands to gain, or where you are so close to a matter discussed it is difficult to be impartial;
• Must have regard to the broader responsibilities as a governor of a public institution in regard to promoting accountability for the actions and performance of the governing body.

For further information about becoming a Parent Governor, please click on the links below.

Letter to Parents             Nomination Form

If you need to contact the Governing Body please ring the Principal’s PA on 0116 2669625..

Dates of Meetings 2019/20