Manorfield C of E Local Governing body

The Local Governing Body plays a key role in setting the school’s overall direction.

The Local Governing Board (LGB)

An overview of what the LGB does for the school:

· Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;

· Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff

· Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

How the Local Governing Board is formed:

The Local Governing Board is made up of elected parent governors, a staff governor, representatives of the local community (co-opted governors) and, as a Church of England primary school, Manorfield also has Church or Foundation Governors.

What the Local Governing Board does in more detail:

· plays a key role in setting the school’s overall direction as an individual school within the Embrace Multi Academy Trust

· holds the school accountable for its performance by acting as a ‘critical friend’ to the Headteacher and the Senior Leadership Team - offering support and asking challenging questions

· helps to respond to the needs of parents and the community

· helps to shape the aims and objectives and agrees key policies that guide the school’s work and ensures that all legal requirements are fully met

· ensures that the curriculum is sets challenging targets for children’s attainment and progress and keeps up the drive for continuous improvement

· ensures that the curriculum encourages children’s personal development, so that they are fully aware and engaged citizens of their community

· makes sure the school fulfils its duty to keep children safe, properly looked after and enjoying their time at Manorfield

· monitors that the wellbeing of all stakeholders is considered and supported at all times

· agrees and monitors the school’s budget, making sure that resources are used for the particular needs of the school and for the benefit of the children

What being a governor involves:

The Local Governing Board meets twice termly as a whole. Each governor will have a specific link (or links) within the school and liaises with the relevant member(s) of staff as necessary in order to feed back in these meetings. Outside of meetings, a number of working parties may be set up, according to specific needs. Governors work closely with school staff to support curriculum areas, form part of any staff selection panel, attend school events and meet with parents to discuss formal complaints. The aim is to match the interests and skills of each individual governor to the roles they take on. In addition to this, governors attend training sessions through local training providers (paid for by the school).

Becoming a governor at Manorfield:

Manorfield has two elected Parent Governors, who each serve a four year term before new elections are held. The school can also co-opt governors from the wider community if they have a particular skill that would strengthen the board’s ability to support and challenge the school (e.g. safeguarding, health and safety, special educational needs, finance etc).

The skills that we look for in a governor are:

· strong commitment to the role,

· inquisitiveness to question and analyse

· willingness to learn and undertake training

· good inter-personal skills

· basic level of literacy in English, and sufficient numeracy skills to understand basic data

· flexibility,

· a commitment to inclusivity and our Christian Values

· knowledge of the education system is helpful, but not essential

· a sense of humour is vital!

Mrs Kathryn Bullock is the Chair of our Governing Body and can be contacted via the school office. 

Please click here to view the 2022-23 Governing Body

For the register of business interests of headteachers and governors please click here