Governors

The Governing Body is a team of people who work in partnership with the Headteacher and ‘govern the school’.  They appoint the Headteacher, set and monitor policies, decide how the school should spend its budget, foster good relations with parents, the local community and others, maintain and improve the school premises and make sure the appropriate Curriculum is provided, amongst other duties. They work as a team and take collective decisions, establishing committees and working parties as they consider appropriate.

Part of a Governor's role is to challenge the Head. The three main types of challenge are as follows:

1. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
2. Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils
3. Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure it’s money well spent.

Governors carry out their tasks in a number of different ways, through regular meetings and visits to the schools.

Skills and training

Governors do not need specific skills, but many of the tasks they are required to undertake can benefit from general business knowledge such as understanding management systems, budget planning and HR functions. Local authorities are required to ensure that training for governors is available and most governing bodies buy into their local authority training packages (which may include online learning) to ensure that governors are properly inducted to their role.

We are extremely fortunate at St Mary’s that many of our Governors hold experience in fields such as headship, Ofsted, Teaching and Learning, Health and Safety and Finance due to their previous and current employment.

St. Mary’s Primary School Meeting Dates 2026-27