‘Inspiring and Growing
for Fullness of Life’
The local governing board’s role and responsibilities
The school has an active local governing board (LGB) which is comprised of elected staff, Parent Governors, Foundation Governors nominated by the parochial church council of St Phillips and St James' Church and appointed by the Diocesan Board of Education and community representatives appointed by the LGB. The LGB is delegated responsibilities by the DGAT Trust Board and these are set out in the Scheme of Delegation. The LGB meets at least six times a year. In addition, various committees meet regularly to discuss areas of Finance, Personnel, Curriculum, Health & Safety, School Improvement, Premises and ensuring that the school’s distinctive Christian vision has impact in all we do.
If you are interested in becoming a local governor, please talk to one of us, the Headteacher or the Clerk to the Governors
Monitoring
We support, monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the school in the areas delegated in the Scheme of Delegation. We do this by asking clear and useful questions about the way things are done and the reasons for them being done that way. The LGB is also responsible for monitoring the implementation and impact of certain Trust and school policies as managed and carried out by the Headteacher and staff; as well as holding the school to account for the standards achieved and the quality of education provided for all children.
Strategic Planning
We plan with the staff leadership team for the strategic development and improvement of the school, not only in physical terms with regard to the development of the site and facilities, but also in terms of the development of the school ethos and curriculum. We set the school strategic priorities and budget together with the Headteacher.
The Headteacher is responsible for the day-to-day management of the school.
The local governing board:
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Monitors the provision of a broad and balanced curriculum
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Monitors the implementation of the school’s safeguarding policies and procedures
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Monitors the school’s strategic priorities
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Supports decision-making on the school’s budget and staffing
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Decides how the school can encourage the pupils’ spiritual, moral and cultural development and ensures that the school provides for all its pupils, including those with special education needs.
Finances
The LGB monitors the efficient spending of the school’s finances in line with the Trust’s finance policies, which includes both planning for long term spending and setting and monitoring the annual budget and funds.
In order to carry out these roles effectively we meet at least three times a year as a full local governing board and more often in committees. Working in committees means that responsibilities can be shared between them and also local governor’s expertise can be used and developed in certain areas. These committees are:
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Curriculum – including teaching, learning and standards.
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Resources – including health & safety, safeguarding, staffing, premises and finance.
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Ethos –including Christian distinctiveness, values and RE.