Governors
Much of the work of the Governing Body is around the strategic leadership of the school which means we support the school leadership team in making both good financial decisions and also making sure that decisions about children's education are good. We track the progress of the school which means we look at how well our children are performing in their education. We also look at how well our teachers are teaching and our learning support assistants provide support.
Our work is divided across committees which meet each term.
All our meetings are open and any parents or members of the wider community can attend to observe. If you would like to attend a meeting, please contact our clerk, clerk@stjohnscofe.uk for further information. You would be most welcome.
Purpose and role of the Governing Body
The purpose of our Governing Body is to help St John's provide the best possible education for its pupils. We have three key functions:
To bring strategic direction. This includes developing the vision for the school and setting the school development plan and monitoring its implementation.
To support and challenge the Headteacher and Senior Leaders and to hold them to account for the children’s educational performance and the quality of teaching in the school.
To oversee the financial performance of the school and make sure its money is well-spent
There are 14 members, each of whom is appointed for a four year term, after which time they may seek re-election.
Full members are drawn from five areas of the school community:
Parents of current pupils
Staff – the Headteacher, teachers and support staff
Local Authority –appointed by the Local Authority,
Co-opted – members co-opted for their useful skills,
Foundation – members are appointed by the Diocese and the PCC.
Associates also attend meetings but are not entitled to vote.
It is important to note that, although these members are representative of the school community, they are not intended to represent the views of the particular community from which they are drawn. Once elected or appointed, members should always act in what they consider to be the best interests of the school.
Governors must also accept collective responsibility for all decisions taken, regardless of whether they personally voted for them and ensure that the detail of discussions in meetings, including the votes of individual governors, remain confidential. This latter point is crucial for ensuring mutual trust, which is essential for effective school governance.
Meetings of the Governing Body and Committees
The full Governing Body meets once per term. Parents and staff are welcome to approach the chair to ask for an invitation to attend meetings as observers, except where confidential matters are to be discussed.
Much of the work of the Governing Body is done through its two committees, which meet once per term ahead of the main Governing Body meetings. Each governor sits on at least one of these committees. They are:
Teaching and Learning Committee– which sets and monitors targets for educational achievement.
The Finance and Resources Committee– this oversees the efficient and effective use of all the school’s resources, including staff, finance, premises and equipment.
If you would like to view the minutes from a Governor meeting, please visit our school office to request a copy.
Contacting Governors
If you would like to find out more about the work of the Governing Body, please contact the Chair of Governors via the school office. Anyone seeking election to the Governing Body may arrange to attend a meeting before election so that you can reach an informed decision about whether you wish to be involved in school governance.
Normally, any issues concerning the running of the school should, in the first instance, be addressed to a member of St John’s staff or its Senior Leadership Team. However, should any issue be unresolved via this route or should an issue arise which you would prefer not to discuss with a member of staff, you may contact the Chair of Governors via email at clerk@stjohnscofe.uk