 Why do schools have a Governing Body?
Every school has a governing body, The Governing Body helps the school provide the best possible education for its pupils. It has three main roles:
1.) Helping to decide the school's strategy for improvement so that its pupils learn most effectively and achieve the highest standards
2.) As a critical friend. Critical in the sense of its responsibility for monitoring and evaluating the school's effectiveness, asking challenging questions and pressing for improvement. A friend because it exists to promote the interests of the school and its pupils
3.) To ensure accountability. The Head teacher and staff report to the Governing Body on the school's performance. In its turn, the Governing Body answers for its actions, above all to parents and the wider local community, for the school's overall performance.
What does the Governing Body do?
Governors are not involved in the day-to-day management: that is the Head teacher's job. The Head teacher would normally deal with general complaints about individual members of staff or pupils:-
"Governors are the voice of the local community in the running of the school. They make sure any decisions make sense to ordinary people, and they let parents know what is going on. Governors don't need any special qualifications or experience, except an interest in supporting their local school and its plans for improvement."
The full governing body meets at least once a term, and there are several subcommittee and working party meetings.
We are lucky at Millbank that many of the governors come into the school to help and support the school in many ways. They also attend and organise governor training on many topics so they can be as effective as possible in their role as governors. More and more responsibilities are being delegated to schools and their governing bodies.
Who are Millbank's Governors?
Father Jesse Smith - Community Governor (Chair)
Mrs Diane Leigh - LA Governor (Vice-Chair)
Miss G Allen - Headteacher
Miss N Newing - Teacher-Governor
Miss L Hargadon - Non-Teaching Staff Governor
PCSO G Beynon - Community Governor
Mr J Stagg - LA Governor
Mrs A Rowlands - Parent Governor
Mrs D Fish - Parent Governor
Mrs J Smith - Parent Governor
Mrs C Donovan is the Clerk to the Governing Body
We have vacancies at the moment for 1 Parent-Governor, 1 Community Governor and 1 LA Governor.
Who can become a Governor?
Most people can become governors but there are exclusions based on prior criminal convictions and bankruptcy - you can find out more on the web site links below. At Millbank the governors sign a form to say they are eligible, and also that we will declare any 'interests'(such as business connections with family or friends and any supplier or contractor). When Parent Governor vacancies arise, all the parents are notified and, if necessary, elections are held. Parents are a very important part of the Governing Body.
In addition to the head teacher, the following people serve on the governing body, usually for a period of about four years.
• Four parents.
• One teacher at the school.
• On non-teaching member of staff.
• Three people appointed by the local authority(LA), Cardiff County Council.
• Three others working in the local community, at least one of whom represents the local business community.
Every year the governors elect a chair and a clerk.
Here are a list of some of the School Policies produced by the governors
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