The role of the Governing Body (GB) is strategic and, as set out in the Governors Handbook 2019, is to provide confident, strategic leadership and to create robust accountability, oversight and assurance for educational and financial performance.
Governance is not about fundraising, neither is it about cheer-leading for the school, although governors might do those things. Governors monitor and evaluate the progress of the school towards achievement of its aims and objectives, and act as a critical friend and source of challenge and support to the Headteacher.
The Headteacher is responsible for the internal organisation, management and control of the school and the implementation of the strategic framework established by the Governing Body.
The GB has three core functions:
The Governors Handbook provides clear and detailed responsibilities and expectations of the Department for Education (DfE) for all Governors.
Governance is not about fundraising, neither is it about cheer-leading for the school, although governors might do those things. Governors monitor and evaluate the progress of the school towards achievement of its aims and objectives, and act as a critical friend and source of challenge and support to the Headteacher.
The Headteacher is responsible for the internal organisation, management and control of the school and the implementation of the strategic framework established by the Governing Body.
The GB has three core functions:
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
- Holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the performance management of staff; and
- Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent.
The Governors Handbook provides clear and detailed responsibilities and expectations of the Department for Education (DfE) for all Governors.
Our Governing Body’s Instrument of Governance confirms our GB composition as:
14 governors in total, comprising of 8 Foundation Governors, 3 parent governors, 1 LA Governor, the Headteacher and 1 Staff Governor.
The Headteacher remains a member of the GB throughout the term of headship.
Each individual governor is a member of a governing body, which is established in law as a corporate body. Individual governors may not act independently of the rest of the governing body. Decisions are the joint responsibility of the governing body. Parent governors are representative parents, not the representatives of parents.
The Full Governing Body meets at least 3 times each year (once every term) and delegates some of its responsibilities to its Committees. In order to fulfil their responsibilities, every Governor belongs to at least one of the committees which oversee different aspects of school life.
Our GB has three standing committees with other sub-committees or working groups convened as required:
- Resources Committee: responsible for the financial management of the school, including risk management and premises
- Curriculum Committee: focuses on the learning and progress of our pupils
- Admissions Committee: ensures the correct implementation of the school's admissions procedures and works closely with the Diocese of Westminster and the Local Authority to ensure that the Admissions Process is fair and transparent.
How to become a School Governor
Being a School Governor could be very rewarding and satisfying. It offers a unique opportunity to help shape the future of schools through strategic direction. As a Catholic school, our Governing Body is formed of Foundation Governors who are practicing Catholics. The Diocese of Westminster website offers detailed information https://education.rcdow.org.uk/governance-admissions/foundation-governors/.
The Government publication https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/constitution-of-governing-bodies-of-maintained-schools also provided clear information on the statutory requirements of school governing bodies.
If you are interested in becoming a governors, please contact the Chair of Governors by email to
governors@st-monicas.hackney.sch.uk
Being a School Governor could be very rewarding and satisfying. It offers a unique opportunity to help shape the future of schools through strategic direction. As a Catholic school, our Governing Body is formed of Foundation Governors who are practicing Catholics. The Diocese of Westminster website offers detailed information https://education.rcdow.org.uk/governance-admissions/foundation-governors/.
The Government publication https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/constitution-of-governing-bodies-of-maintained-schools also provided clear information on the statutory requirements of school governing bodies.
If you are interested in becoming a governors, please contact the Chair of Governors by email to
governors@st-monicas.hackney.sch.uk