What is the Role for a Governing Body?
The DfES states that the key purpose of a Governing Body is to help schools provide the best possible educations for pupils. Governing Bodies do this by:
- Working with the Head Teacher and staff to set strategic aims for the school, based on its mission and strategies
- Monitoring and evaluating performance, acting as a critical friend to the Head Teacher and Senior Management Team to support and challenge them in running the school.
- Ensuring that the school is accountable to the children and parents it serves, to its local community, to those who fund and maintain it, as well as to the staff it employs
Our Mission Statement at St James's
St James's is a Catholic School in which each individual grows in the knowledge and love of Christ.
In partnership with parents and the whole community, our purpose is to provide a high standard of education, giving the maximum opportunity to realise each person's potential
Our focus as a Governing Body is to strive to ensure that the school is able to deliver that mission. We therefore focus our attention on making sure that:
- Every individual is able to grow in the knowledge and love of Christ
- Children and staff have the maximum opportunity to realise their individual potential
- The school provides a high standard and a broad based education
- We work in partnership with parents, staff, the local community and other stakeholders in the interests of the children and the community we serve
How the Governing Body is Made Up
The Governing Body is made up of a combination of the following:
Parents Governors, elected by, and act as representatives of the parent body
- they serve for four years in total, the next elections are in Jan 2010
Foundation Governors - 10 in total
- these are appointed by the Diocese and serve for four years
- We currently have 4 vacancies for Foundation Governors
LEA Governors (2 in total)
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these are appointed by the LEA and serve a four year term
In addition, we also have two staff governors (the Head Teacher and one elected member of staff)
How to Get Hold of Us
If you have issues, concerns or want to ask any questions, you can get hold of us through any of the following means:
- At Parents Evenings
- By dropping a note into the school office addressed to the Chair of Governors
- By e-mail please feel free to contact me personally at robin.mackenzie@bt.com
St James's Governing Body - Responsibilities 2006-2007
