Governors
Governors are one of the largest volunteer forces in the country and have an important part to play in raising school standards. The role of the governing body is absolutely key to the effectiveness of a school.
School governors provide strategic leadership and accountability in schools alongside the Headteacher. Governors hold the main responsibility for finance in schools, and it is governors who work with the Headteacher to make the tough decisions particuarly around balancing resources.
The role of the governing board is a strategic one with three key functions:
* Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.
* Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and it's pupils.
* Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction.
In order to make sure this is done well, we believe that training is essential. In January 2017, the DfE released a new Competency Framework for Governance, structured around the DfE’s newly identified “six features of effective governance”. The governance handbook 2017 states that “Boards should carry out regular audits of the skills they possess in the light of the skills and competences they need, taking account of the department’s Competency framework for governance”. The DfE suggest one way governing boards can use the competency framework is to inform how they carry out a skills audit. Our Governing Body did this in Autumn 2017 and will be reviewed annually.
If you would like further information about becoming a school governor or what this role involves, please contact the school office.
Our Chairs of Governors, who share the role, are Chris Marchant and Hannah Mather and can be contacted via email on chairs@woodlands.cheshire.sch.uk
