The Role of a School Governor

Governors act as a critical friend to the Head Teacher and school:

• They support and challenge the Head Teacher.
• They ensure that the school is accountable to the children and parents it serves, to its local community and to those who fund and maintain it, as well as the staff it employs.
• Monitor the school’s performance by gathering evidence to show what progress is being made; strategic priorities, targets and the implementation of policies.
• Accountable for the school’s overall performance and are required to explain the Governing Body’s decision and actions to anyone who has a legitimate interest.
• Ensure that all statutory requirements are met.

Who can be a Governor?

The Governing Body is made up of Parents, Community and Staff Governors.  Any parent of a child registered at Whitelands Park may run for election, make nominations and vote.  If you would like to know more about this or are interested in becoming a Governor, please do not hesitate to contact the school office at office@whitelandsparkprimary.co.uk or +44 (0)1635 862517.

Governors act collectively as the governing body, exercising their powers in a primary strategic leadership role; they do not get involved in the day-to-day running of the school.  Governing body can establish committees but members are not governors unless they are also members of the Governing Body.  Whitelands Park Primary School operates two committees that combined cover the work of the school and the responsibilities of the governors.  They are:

• Curriculum and Pastoral Committee
• Staffing and Finance Committee

As well as attending governing body meetings, governors are expected to be a member of at least one committee and to engage in appropriate governor and school activities.  Governors also serve on various panels that decide on specific matters, such as grievance, complaints and staff appointments.  The Governing Body generally meets four times a year and each committee once a term.

Appointing Governors

Governors are appointed in a number of different ways:

• Trust Governors are appointed by the board of trustees.  A trust governor is a person appointed by the Board of Trustees of the Kennet School Academies Trust.
• Parent Governors are elected by ballot of all parents and carers of current pupils.  A parent Governor must be a parent of a pupil at our academy at the time of their election and are appointed by the governing body following a secret ballot of all parents/carers of registered pupils at the academy.
• Community Governors are appointed by the governing body to reflect its community and stakeholders.
• The Headteacher is a governor ex-officio.

All governors, except the Headteacher, serve for a term of office of four years but can be reappointed.

Further Information

More detailed information on Whitelands Park Primary School's Local Governing Board, such as:

• Register of Interest
• Records of Attendance and the Basis of Appointments
• Annual Report and Finance Statements
• Gender Pay Gap

can be found on Kennet Schools Academies Trust page