Norristhorpe J & I School Governors
Message from the Chair of Governors
At the Governing Body meeting on 29th September 2021 I was elected as Chair, replacing Jill Knowles who has been a governor for many years and who has served as Chair for the last five years. On behalf of the school and the Governing Body I would like to thank Jill for her hard work and dedication in her role as Chair. I am really pleased to say that she is to continue as a member of the Governing Body as her knowledge, skills and experience will be of great use to the group and to me in particular.
I have long standing connections with the school as both my children attended the school several years ago and I have been a governor for almost four years. I was Deputy Headteacher at Spen Valley High School for many years until I retired in 2016. During this time I had close professional contacts with Norristhorpe. I am delighted to be given the opportunity to lead the governors at this exciting time as we come out of the pandemic.
Governors are ultimately responsible for all aspects of the school and, although not directly involved in daily management, they do oversee the strategic direction the school takes and work very closely with the Head Teacher and Senior Leadership Team to ensure that Norristhorpe remains a good school, and continues to strive to be outstanding.
The workings of the Governing Body are largely delegated to our two committees (Resources - responsible for finances, budgets, buildings and premises, staffing, health and safety and Standard and Effectiveness - responsible for curriculum, associated policies, pupil performance and targets, Special Educational Needs) that monitor every aspect of the school. In addition to serving on one or both of these committees, every governor attends Full Governing Body meetings and joins working parties where it is appropriate to do so. Governors also assist in the development and implementation of a range of statutory and non-statutory policies in the school.
The core values of the School underpin everything we do as governors. We are committed to ensuring that Norristhorpe School continues to work to their vision and values and with the help of pupils, staff and parents we are confident that the School will continue to go from strength to strength.
Should you wish to contact me please contact the school office in the first instance.
Diane McConnell
What is a Governing Body?
Every school has to have a Governing Body which usually includes the Head Teacher plus; parent, staff, LA and community representatives. All members of the Governing Body are volunteers and give up their own time for the school.
A Governing Body has an important function within the school. Its main aims are as follows:
1. To provide a strategic view – working closely with the Head Teacher helping to decide the School's strategy for improvements.
2. To act as a critical friend - supporting the staff but also asking challenging questions.
3. To ensure accountability - monitoring and evaluating the School's effectiveness and performance.
The Governing Body is committed to working for the benefit of the school and is always happy to receive your feedback. If you are interested in becoming a school Governor, or want more information about our role, please feel free to chat informally to any of our Parent Governors or contact me via the school office.
What is a School Governor?
School governors are volunteers who help to run the school. Most schools work with a group of school governors - together they’re called the 'governing body'. They’re involved in decisions about all aspects of managing the school – such as running buildings and budgets, supporting staff and setting standards of school discipline.
Governors also help to make big decisions about the school’s long-term goals. They support head teachers, but also ask questions and make sure the head teacher is taking the school in the right direction.
Who can be a School Governor?
Anyone over 18 can be a school governor – you don’t have to be a parent with a child at the school. However, every governing body includes parent governors, and it can be a rewarding way to be involved in your child’s school.
The most important qualities for being a governor are enthusiasm, commitment and an interest in education. You don’t need teaching experience, but it’s useful to bring skills from other areas of your life. It can also be time-consuming - for example, if your school has to apply 'special measures', which are set by Ofsted, to make general improvements.
What does the role involve?
At most schools you’ll need to attend a governors' meeting each half term. You’ll also be expected to join one or two sub-committees – these cover different areas like the curriculum, finance or buildings. You’ll need to be able to work well in a team, as you’ll be making joint decisions on policy.
Demands on your time depend partly on how the school is doing generally. Being a governor will be a busy role if the school’s results are getting worse or it’s going through a big change like appointing a new head teacher, or joining with another school.
As a governor you’ll probably need to work eight to ten hours a month, assuming your school is in a reasonable position.
How do I become a School Governor?
If you’re interested in becoming a governor, talk to the current chair of governors who leads the board. When there’s a vacancy for a parent governor all parents will be informed, and you’ll have a chance to stand for election.
Before you put yourself forward, talk to your employer. Many employers recognise the role of school governor as useful work experience and may offer paid leave for governor duties.
Governors Documentation
Governing Body Members
1. Parent Governors - These governors either have children at the school now or have had in the past and have been elected by the parents of the children attending the school. They serve for a period of 4 years.
2. Local Authority Governors - These governors are appointed by Kirklees Council.
3. Community or co-opted Governors - These are members of the public. They may or may not have children at the school, but do have a particular expertise or an interest in the school.
4. Staff Governors - These members are elected by the school staff.
5. Associate Governor - This is a non elected member who has been invited on by the Governing Body because they have a particular expertise or interest.