Norristhorpe J & I School Governors
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Message from the Chair of Governors
"I would like to introduce myself. I am Jill Knowles and have recently been elected Chair of Governors. The Governing Body are a broad cross-section of the local community and school staff, including parents of children in school. They bring with them a range of skills and talents but above all they bring enthusiasm and a sense of common purpose. I have been a member of the Governing body for over 5 years and was previously Vice Chair. I live locally and my daughter attended Norristhorpe until very recently now moving up to High School.
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 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."
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.
Governors Documentation
Annually, at the first meeting in the new school year, all the school governors complete a Register of Business Interests
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.
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 Governors - These are members of the public who live in the local vicinity. 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.