School Governors

What does a School Governor do?

Governors are responsible for overseeing the management side of a school: strategy, policy, budgeting and staffing. They enable their school to run as effectively as possible, working alongside senior leaders and supporting teachers to provide excellent education to children. Being a school governor is a commitment to attending governing body meetings which consider issues such as setting the school vision, mitigating financial risk and scrutinising educational outcomes. They are also involved in the school community, acting as critical friends to the headteacher and senior leaders. Governors bring a wide range of skills and expertise from their professional lives to the governing board and schools benefit greatly from working with skilled volunteers, for example anyone with experience of finance, law, premises management or human resources. A governor with business know-how can transform the running of a school.

Core governor responsibilities

Setting the strategic direction

Governing bodies are the key strategic decision makers in every school. Along with the Head Teacher, it is the job of a governing body to set the school’s aims and objectives around how the school will develop and improve. They set policies, formulate plans and agree targets to help the school achieve these objectives, as well as regularly reviewing their strategic framework in light of that progress.

Creating robust accountability

The governing body is there to support and challenge the school’s senior leadership team. They play a crucial role in holding the Head Teacher to account for securing the best possible outcomes for pupils. By challenging key decisions and asking pertinent questions about the school’s performance data, governors aim to guarantee high standards in education.

Ensuring financial probit

Governing bodies have a strategic role in the financial management of schools. Their key responsibilities include, setting financial priorities through the school development plan, 3 year financial plan and the annual budget. They also decide on how the school’s delegated budget should be spent in accordance with the school improvement plan and statutory curriculum requirement

We all have a wish to help and support the school, to ensure that all children who attend Randwick are safe, happy and attain and progress to the best of their ability, through the guidance and expertise of the staff.  We support the school by giving our time and support to help the Head teacher and staff, in their strategy for the future of the school and their wish for all children to succeed.  Randwick Primary School is an integral part of the whole community, working together with the Church an families, to secure the Christian beliefs as laid out in the Schools vision and values.  With its beautiful grounds, access to wonderful nature and it’s nurturing inclusive environment we can all see wonderful future citizens emerging.

How do we do this?

The Full Governing body meets every term to review and discuss school life, using the School Development plan as our guide. This body is also split into two committees who also meet every term, the Curriculum and Standards Committee and the Finance and Resources Committee.  We review targets, ask questions to support and challenge the Headteacher to ensure standards and experiences for ALL Randwick children are being reached appropriately.

Each governor serves on one of these committees, ensuring our experiences and expertise is utilised to the benefit of the school

We also have statutory panels that cover safeguarding, SEND and complaints as and when required.

Working together

We believe in partnership. This is about everyone – children, parents, staff, governors and the wider school community working together to ensure that every child succeeds. To achieve this and to carry out our role as governors effectively, we need to know what issues are important to you so that we remain responsive and ensure that you know what issues are being discussing so that we remain accountable.

Keeping in touch

• Termly newsletter form the Governors
• School Website Governor section
• School Playground – As some of our governors are parents at the school, we can often be found around at the beginning and end of the school day
• Meet the governors – As well as governors attending school events, you can also contact us via the school office.
• Copies of meeting minutes are available through the school office.

Becoming a Governor

– It is a voluntary, unpaid and important role. Particular skills, knowledge or experience are useful to the governing body, but the following is vital:

• a commitment to school life
• the ability to work with others
• patience and enthusiasm
• a willingness to learn
• a commitment to working openly and democratically
• a willingness to spend what time you can getting involved in school life.

Our governors contribute to school life in many ways – attending meetings, undertaking training, visiting school, participating in events and more.

Our governors are a team. However much we may differ in our opinions and experiences we are united by our commitment to Randwick School and the responsibility we share for its long term success.

Governors with individual lead responsibilities;

Rachel O'Neill: Safeguarding, Attendance.

Simon Eddy – SEND – Special Educational Needs - P4C

Who's Who

*Interests: Governing bodies are under a duty to publish their register of interests.
Governors declare:-

• relevant business interests – financial, or other, interests in an organisation which could feasibly be in a position to supply goods/services to the school
• details of any other educational establishments they govern
• any material interests arising from relationships between governors or relationships between governors and members of the school staff including spouses, partners and relatives.

* The Government no longer requires Governing Bodies to hold an annual general election.

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