The governing body is the strategic decision-making body of a school and has a crucial role in making sure every child gets the best possible education.
What do governors do?
School governors provide strategic leadership and accountability in schools. Governors appoint the head teacher and deputy headteacher. It is governors who hold the main responsibility for finance in schools, and it is governors who work with the headteacher to make the tough decisions about balancing resources.
Each individual governor is a member of a governing board, which is established in law as a corporate body. Individual governors may not act independently of the rest of the governing board; decisions are the joint responsibility of the governing board.
The role of the governing board is a strategic one, its key functions are to:
set the aims and objectives for the school
set the policies for achieving those aims and objectives
set the targets for achieving those aims and objectives
monitor and evaluate the progress the school is making towards achievement of its aims and objectives
be a source of challenge and support to the headteacher (a critical friend)
The Full Governing Body meets at least six times a year but Governors also attend subsidiary committee meetings focussed on Teaching & Learning and Resources.
The Teaching & Learning Committee hold the school to account for the educational standards achieved and the quality of education provided. It sets targets for pupils' education and measures the school against those targets.
The Resources Committee is responsible for financial matters. It engages in the setting of the annual school budget and reviews it on a regular basis. The maintenance and health & safety of the school premises also fall within the remit of this committee.
Governors are also involved in staff appointments, appraisal and pay.
Meet the Governors of Winterbourne Earls Church of England Primary School
Mrs Jenny Vokes - Chair of Governors
Co-opted Governor (appointed by Governors)
Term of Office: 09/05/2011 - 17/11/2018
Safeguarding Governor
Member of Teaching & Learning and Resources Committees
Mr Henry Head - Vice Chair
Foundation Governor (appointed by Salisbury Diocesan Board of Education & St Mary PCC)
Term of Office: 14/10/2013 - 13/10/2017Behaviour & Welfare Governor
Mr John Grafton
Clerk to the Governors
Appointed 01/07/2013
Mrs Sue McIntyre
Local Authority Governor (appointed by Local Authority)
Term of Office: 01/09/2010 - 17/09/2018
Chair of Resources Committee and member of Teaching & Learning Committee
Reverend Peter Ostli-East
Foundation Governor (ex officio)
Appointed 09/05/2011Behaviour & Welfare Governor
Mrs Jenny Head
Foundation Governor (appointed by Salisbury Diocesan Board of Education & St Michael and All Angels PCC)
Term of Office: 02/03/2013 - 01/03/2018
SEND and Looked After Children Governor
Chair of Teaching & Learning Committee
Dr Matthew Brookes
Parent Governor (elected by Parents)
Member of Teaching & Learning Committee
Term of Office: 26/09/2016 - 25/09/2020
Mr Adrian Burrows
Parent Governor (elected by Parents)
Term of Office: 04/09/2015 - 03/09/2019
Website, Pupil Premium and Health & Safety Governor
Member of Teaching & Learning and Resources Committees
Mrs Juliet Field
Parent Governor (elected by Parents)
Member of Teaching & Learning and Resources Committees
Term of Office: 26/09/2016 - 25/09/2020
Parent Governor - vacant
Parent Governor - vacant
Mrs Philippa Carter
Staff Governor (appointed by School)
Term of Office: 17/11/2015 - 16/11/2019
Member of Teaching & Learning Committee
Miss Jenny Purchase - Headteacher
Staff Governor (ex officio)
Member of Teaching & Learning and Resources Committees
Mrs Sarah Hyde
Co-opted Governor (appointed by Governors)
Term of Office: 12/11/2013 - 18/11/2018
Member of Resources Committee
Mrs Jo Pridmore
Associate Member (appointed by Governors)
Term of Office: 25/05/2017 - 24/05/2021
(Legal & Safeguarding)
Mrs Emma Bravery
Associate Member (appointed by Governors)
Term of Office: 25/05/2017 - 24/05/2021
(School Publicity & Website)
Mr Julian Redfern
Associate Member (appointed by Governors)
Term of Office: 09/10/2018 - 08/10/2022
(Maths)
Newsletters
Detailed information about our Governing Body