Schools are run by a Board of Governors working with the principal to secure the delivery of education in the school suitable to the needs, ages and abilities of the pupils. Becoming a governor is a way of contributing to your local school and learning new skills.
An outstanding Governing Body is absolutely key to the effectiveness of a school or academy. OFSTED (the national inspection body for schools) has noted that the most effective schools clearly demonstrate effective leadership and management, of which Governance is a vital part.
As a Governing Body we are continually looking out for individuals who are committed to seeing Manston St James Primary continue to improve so that our children gain the necessary skills they need to be able to make aspirational choices in the future. We need people who are able to look at our academy strategically, who are able to support the leadership but also provide appropriate challenge. Our purpose is always to help the academy improve its performance, and therefore improve outcomes for the children in our community.
In particular, we are looking for individuals who can provide an important link with the local community, as well as having business and management skills and experience. You do not need to be an expert in education, but someone who is not afraid to consider issues and ask questions that will challenge and hold the academy leadership to account.
In turn, we hope that becoming a Governor will enable you to strengthen existing skills and develop new ones, as well as providing an opportunity to contribute positively to the children and families in our local community.
If you are interested in becoming a Governor, and would like to know more, please contact one of the people listed below:
A school's governing body is a corporate body. This means it has a legal existence separate from that of its individual members.
The governing body act on behalf of the Academy Trust and the key responsibilities are:
The Department for Education (DFE) sets out information on the role of the governing bodies in the Governor's Handbook. It says:
In all types of schools, governing bodies should have a strong focus on the core strategic function:
In other guidance the DfE explains that the purpose of the governing body is:
Governance is strategic and management is operational. This distinction between governance and management needs to be clearly understood by all, so that governors are not asked to, and do not try to, involve themselves in day to day management.
Governors are there to govern, not to carry out other work on a pro-bono basis. School leaders must not be micro-managed. The governors should concentrate on matters related to strategy and school improvement, delegating to school leaders those tasks which are operational (for example, drafting policies, making judgements about teaching quality, and recruiting and deploying staff below senior leadership level). The agenda of governing bodies should be driven by the strategic planning cycle.
Term: 25 April 2023 - 24 April 2027
Term: 23 November 2020 - 22 November 2024
Term: 9 December 2020 - 24 December 2023
Term: 22 April 2023 - 21 April 2027
Term: 18 November 2021 - 17 November 2023
Term: 4 November 2021 - 3 November 2025
Term: 5 December 2022 - 4 December 2026
Term: 18 November 2021 - 17 November 2025
Term began: 1 September 2022
Term began: 14 October 2022
Term began: 02 October 2023 - 01 October 2027
Dawn Cockerham. Staff governor role. 15 Nov 2019 - 31 March 2023.