St Peter's C of E Infant School

Schools are run by a Board of Governors working with the Headteacher 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.

What is the role of the Governors and how do they influence the running of the school?

Governors have a strategic role in the School leadership and accountability. At St Peter’s School the Governors strive to ensure that each child is safe, happy and has every opportunity to reach their full potential.

Governors appoint the Headteacher, Miss Greenaway, and collectively we set school aims and objectives, with targets to achieve a high standard of success. This is set within Government regulations, whilst maintaining and building on the strong Christian ethos upon which the school is founded. Furthermore, Governors monitor and evaluate the progress and performance of the school, while providing a source of challenge and support to the Headteacher. They also ensure that the school uses its resources wisely.

Who can become a school governor?

School Governors are one of the largest volunteer forces in the country and are drawn from a wide range of backgrounds. The attraction often being to make a positive contribution to the community. Governors, however, must act at all times with integrity, objectivity, honesty and in the best interests of the children and school.

Anyone can become a school governor, with the exception of anyone disqualified on the basis of child protection requirements, bankruptcy restrictions or recent criminal convictions.

No special qualifications are required, but you must be 18 years of age or over.

Enthusiasm, commitment, an interest in education and teamwork are important qualities. You don’t need to have a child at the school.

Schools particularly welcome new governors who have transferable skills developed at work, such as business, finance or human resource skills. As a new governor, you would usually be appointed to the Board of Governors of a school within your local community.

What does being a Governor involve?

There is a commitment to all pupils and staff, make time to attend meetings, and arrange visits to the school.

Meetings
There are seven statutory meetings per school year, and each Governor has a role and responsibility. Although Governors do not need to be education experts, preparing for meetings is key to understanding the role.

Visits
Visits are an essential part of learning how the school functions and provide Governors with an opportunity to engage in monitoring the schoolwork, contributing to the school’s self-evaluation and getting to know the children and staff. Supporting a range of school events is always appreciated.