Governors
‘The role that governance plays in ensuring that every child receives the best possible education has never been more important.’
Sir Michael Wilshaw, Nov 2015
Governors are in place to set the school’s vision, ethos and strategic direction. They are also expected to hold the Headteacher to account for the performance of teachers and pupils, and to ensure that public money is being well spent.
Governors have to be perceptive people who can challenge and support the Headteacher in equal measure and know when and how to do this. They also have to understand the complexities of school organisation and be able to analyse the wealth of data that now exists on school performance.
As a school we are very proud of our governors who take their duties very seriously and give up their time in the interests of the whole-school community. They make an important contribution to raising standards and maintain high aspiration. As these extracts from the school’s most recent Inspection Report confirm:
‘School leaders and governors have an excellent understanding of the strengths and areas of development for the school.’ (Ofsted, 2013)
‘Governors work very effectively with the school and provide excellent support. They are a driving force within the annual Raising Achievement Report. In so doing, they have increased their knowledge and expertise in all aspects of school development. Governors carefully analyse data and monitor and challenge performance effectively.’ (Ofsted, 2013)
Our governors are aware that good governance is predicated on having the right range of skills and experience needed to do the job effectively. They receive regular, relevant, high-quality training often alongside staff, to enable them to do their job effectively. Governors appreciate the need to focus on the core issues that really matter – the quality of teaching, the progress and achievement of pupils and the underlying school culture.
How to become a School Governor
Succession planning is very important to us. Should you be reading this and interested in becoming a governor in the future, Lynne Hammond and Russ Tucker , Co-Chairs of Governors, would be very pleased to hear from you, talk about what is involved and register your interest. They both can be contacted via the school office.
For further information on becoming a Governor please visit the Oxfordshire County Council Governor Services website.