Governors

The Role of School Governors


As Schools are financed through taxes, there are generally 3 main areas which are of concern to everyone - The quality of the Education provided - The influence they have on pupils - and the smooth running of the school.

The School Governing Body, in partnership with The Head & Staff are collectively accountable to the Local Education Authority and the community for the effective and efficient management of the school, and to ensure good relationships between the school the community and the church. All of these interests come together in the School Governing Body ( see school governor list below )

Here are a few of the governing body's responsibilities :-
School expenditure - how the school uses it's money
Curriculum - what is included in curriculum
Personnel - who the school recruits
Information - ensuring parents are given information they are entitled to by law
Fairness - for both pupils and staff, for example in admissions to school or in certain kinds of disputes
Some of these responsibilities can be delegated to the Headteacher or sub committees of the governing body ( e.g. the Finance & Premises committee and the Personnel committee)

Governors play many parts. As well as being representative of the community the school serves they are informally - supporters, ambassadors, interpreters, and 'Critical Friends'. Formally, and most importantly, as a body they play a fundamental role in monitoring, judging, mediating, policy making and guiding change. These responsibilities are very specific and set within the 1986 Education Act. It is important to understand that Governors have responsibility for Policy Making not the Day to Day running of the school, and that their powers are collective not individual.

The governors of St Thomas More are :-

Joanna Pallister Chair of Governors
Evanna Donachie Vice Chair
Father Hayden Parish Priest
Lesley Wright Headteacher
Syd Rooke Foundation
Moira Baillie Foundation
Helen Haywood Foundation

Sarah Walmsley Foundation

Andrew Jackson Parent
Leo Addison-Smyth Parent
Rick Johnson LEA Governor
Danielle Daly Teacher

The whole Governing Body meets once per term and every year there is an open meeting for parents and governors. ( Dates of meetings will be published each term)