What is the role of the Governing Board?


Welcome to the Governing Board Page

What is the role of the Governing Board?

 The role of the Governing Board is a vital part of school life in making sure that every child gets the best possible education.  All Boards must be ambitious for all children and young people and infused with a passion for education and a commitment to continuous school improvement that enables the best possible outcomes.  Governance must be grounded, as defined by both high-quality objective data and a full understanding of the views and needs of pupils, staff, parents, carers and local communities.  It should be driven by inquisitive, independent minds and through conversations focused on the key strategic issues which are conducted with humility, good judgement, resilience, and determination. (DfE Governors Handbook October 2020)

 

The purpose of governance is to provide confident, strategic leadership and to create robust accountability, oversight, and assurance for educational and financial performance.

 

Here at Loudwater Combined School the Governing Board works closely with the Senior Leadership Team to ensure that we promote high standards of educational achievement at the school for all children.  The work of the Governing Board focuses on three core strategic functions:

1. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos, and strategic direction.

2. Holding leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation, its pupils, and the effective and efficient performance management of staff.

3. Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure money is well spent.

 

To ensure that we focus on our strategic responsibilities all members of the Governing Board have access to the NGA Learning Link.  This ensures each Governor has access to an E-Learning platform; providing each member of the board the ability to take responsibility for their own professional development. 

 

We gain knowledge of the school at work through class visits that have clear areas of focus.  We have a plan of when Governors will report back to committee meetings on their linked areas of focus throughout the academic year. This ensures that there is a consistent understanding of the work of the school and provides all members of the Governing Board with a wider understanding of the school.

 

We meet as a Full Governing Board each half term; we have three committee’s that have clear foci on specific areas.  All meetings include Safeguarding and Wel-lbeing as a standard agenda item.

  

  1. Full Board, which focuses on all aspects of the school and its current priorities.
  2. Curriculum & Recovery Committee, which focuses on the curriculum, progress and attainment, the quality of teaching, behaviour & safety, leadership & management,
  3. Finance Personnel & Premises Committee, which focuses on finance and budget responsibilities, premises, and health & safety as well as personnel matters.

 

 Minutes are available from these meetings on request from the school office, office@loudwater.bucks.sch.uk

 

If you would like any further information about the work of the Governing Body, please contact us using the following email address cog@loudwater.bucks.sch.uk