Governors
Find the following information in this section:
• The role of governor within the governing body
• Governing body meeting schedule and minutes
• Governing Body profiles and their roles and responsibilities
• The Governing Body Guide to the Law
The role of governor within the governing body guidance from DFE
The purpose of having a governing body is to:
• help the school to set high standards by planning for the school's future and setting
targets for school improvement
• be a critical friend to the school, offering support and advice
• help the school respond to the needs of parents and the community
• make the school accountable to the public for what it does
• work with the school on planning, developing policies and keeping the school under review
• exercise its responsibilities and powers in partnership with the headteacher and staff
A school's governing body is a corporate body. This means it has a legal existence separate from that of its individual members. As long as governors have acted honestly, without ulterior motive, and reasonably, within the law and regulations, the governing body can't be held to account as individuals for any liabilities incurred by the governing body.
Types of School Governor
Parent Governors
Parents, including carers, of pupils are eligible to stand for election as governors. Parent governors are elected by other parents at the school. If insufficient parents stand for election, the governing body may appoint parents.
Staff Governors
The headteacher is a staff governor by virtue of their office. Other staff, both teaching and support, may become governors as long as they are paid (volunteers do not qualify). Staff governors are elected by the school staff. Any election that is contested must be held by ballot.
Authority Governors
LAs are encouraged to appoint high-calibre governors to schools that need the most support and to appoint candidates irrespective of any political affiliation or preference. Authorities may appoint minor authority representatives, e.g. district and parish councillors, as authority governors.
Community Governors
Community governors are appointed by the governing body to represent community interests. They can be individuals who live or work in the community served by the school are committed to the good governance and success of the school even though they do not work or live close to it.
The definition of community governor is wide. People from a business or professional background and minor authority representatives can be appointed as community governors.
Foundation Governors
Foundation governors are appointed by the school's founding body, church or other organisation named in the school's instrument of government. If the school has a religious character, the foundation governors must preserve and develop this. They must also ensure compliance with the trust deed, if there is one.