School Governors

Governors of Winterbourne Junior Girls’ School

The Governing Body is constituted by an ‘Instrument of Government’ as defined and required by the Government. The Instrument sets out the categories, numbers and terms of office of governors:

Parent governors; at least 2

Staff governors; Head Teacher +1

Authority governors; 1

Co-opted governors; as determined by the governing body and no more than 1/3 where they are also eligible to be elected as staff governors when counted with the staff governor and Head Teacher.

The Governing Body sets the strategic direction, the vision and the ethos of the school.  In doing so it has a number of key responsibilities:

• monitor and challenge the progress of the school in achieving its priorities
• recruit and performance manage the Head Teacher
• exercise employer responsibility
• ensure the school meets its statutory responsibilities
• ensure financial probity
• ensure the premises are well managed
• report to the school’s stakeholders

The purpose of maintained school governing bodies is to ‘conduct the school with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement at the school. This is achieved through:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
• Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils; and
• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent

The governors carry out these functions through its termly full meetings, visits to the school and the work of its two principal working parties:

• Teaching and Learning (T&L)
• School Business (SB)

Other committees are put together to deal with other functions including the Pay Review Appeal committee (PPA), The Way Forward committee (WFC) and the Headteachers Performance and Salary Review committee (HTPSR).

Governors, along with staff members, who regularly attend meetings of the Governing Body and its working parties must declare any business or personal interest that might influence any decision they may make especially in financial matters. Any governor with such an interest must declare it annually and notify the school of any changes that occur. Where there is a conflict of interest the governor must withdraw from the meeting and take no part in the discussions or vote. The agenda of each meeting requires governors and non-governors present to declare any interest they may have in any of the items to be discussed.

• Governing Board Membership, Committee Structure & Portfolio Responsibility 2018-2019
• WJGS Pecuniary Interest Register 2018-19