What is a school governor?
The simple answer to this is that it supports the work of the school. It provides a different perspective from that of the staff and can help the school to plan for the future and to monitor that it is doing what it says it is doing. It also helps to evaluate the effectiveness of the school’s activities. In short, it acts as a critical friend.
What the governing body does not do is to get involved in the day-to-day running of the school. You must be clear that this is the responsibility of the Headteacher. Although members of the governing body may have skills that they can use to support the school e.g. in finance or health and safety, it is important to remember not to tell the staff how to do their jobs. Although we probably all have an idea of what makes a good teacher, governors do not get involved in making judgements about teachers. The governing body’s role is to ensure that there are arrangements in place for the Head and senior staff to monitor how staff are performing.
Every year, the governors are required to publish a report to Parents, this is the AGPM report.
Annual General Parents Meeting Reports
Parental Right to Meet with the Governing Body
Effective from 4th May, 2013, there is no longer a requirement for governing bodies to hold an Annual Parents’ Meeting.
New statutory guidance has been issued by the Welsh Government to this effect (104/2013).
Parents now have the right to request up to three meetings per year with the governing body to discuss issues which concern them. The purpose must be to discuss issues with relate to the school. It cannot be about individual pupil progress, or to air grievances against members of staff or the governing body.
Annex B – Your right to request a meeting with the school’s governing body
Atodiad B – Eich hawl i ofyn am gyfarfod gyda chorff llywodraethu’r ysgol
Governor Handbooks
Please find the English and Welsh Governor handbook below:
English (UK)
Cymraeg