How is the Governing Body made up? School governors are appointed by their peers.  The number of Governors at each school is determined by the size of the school.  At Watlington Primary School, which has approximately 270 pupils on roll, we are entitled to the following:

• 5 parent governors
• 3 LEA (County Council nominated) governors
• 3 Staff governors
• 3 community governors

What roles and responsibilities do Governors have? All governors carry out the same function which is to act as a “critical friend” to the school.  Broadly, this means that governors monitor planning, progress and standards of performance within the school.  Governors are not paid – theirs is purely a voluntary role. It can be hard work at times but very rewarding.

More specifically, the governing body has a number of statutory responsibilities:

• Conducting the school with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement.
• Setting targets for pupil attainment.
• Deciding in broad strategic terms how the school should be run.
• Managing the school’s budget.
• Making sure that the curriculum is balanced and broadly based, that the National Curriculum and religious education are taught, and reporting on National Curriculum Assessment and examination results.
• Determining the staff complement and staff pay policy for the school.
• Participating in staff appointments, particularly of the head and deputy.
• Draw up an action plan after a school inspection.

Adapted from ‘A Guide to the Law for School Governors’