GOVERNING BODY OF HAMPTON PRIMARY SCHOOL

Introduction

Welcome, we at Hampton have high expectations of our Governing Body. We are the strategic leaders of our schools and have a vital role to play in making sure every child gets the best possible education.

The Governors are responsible for the school on behalf of the Members of the Academy Trust.

The Governors are individuals from the school’s community who wish to make a positive contribution to children’s education. We are volunteers who attend meetings and work together to further the school’s development. Together with the Headteacher we set the future direction for Hampton Primary School and Little Hedgehogs Nursery and decide how the school’s budget should be spent.

The Governing Body makes decisions collectively on matters such as setting strategic direction, school policies, ensuring accountability, the school’s improvement plan and monitoring and evaluating school performance.

This is reflected in the law, which states that the purpose of a Governing Body is to ‘conduct the school with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement at the school’

The Governing Body has a strong focus on three core strategic functions:

a. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;

b. Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils; and

c. Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure it is money is well spent.

The Role of a Governor

It is not the intention for governors to be shadow professionals. No amount of training could equip governors with the skills and knowledge of the many professional disciplines - finance, personnel, curriculum, management etc, which the role of the governor could encompass. Governors have themselves identified the skills and qualities necessary to enable them to work as an effective team as follows:

• to have an interest in the pupils and to be supportive of the staff of the school;

• to make full use of the knowledge, skills and experience which governors own;

• to attend meetings and get involved;

• to recognise the shared values and mutual concerns which bind them together as a team;

• to work co-operatively with a common purpose to get the job done;

• to have mutual respect and tolerance for different points of view

• to be able to identify, evaluate and prioritise issues;

• to encourage qualities of leadership and delegation;

• to have an awareness of the values of the school, its aims and objectives;

• to be prepared to listen;

• to have a sense of humour;

• to take a common sense approach;

• to establish a balance between achieving the task, keeping team spirit and motivation high, and valuing the contribution of the individual;

• to enjoy your governorship!

If you are interested in becoming a School Governor please contact: Clerk@hampton.kent.sch.uk