The Governing Body

The Governing Body

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.

A Governor's Role

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 Curriculum & Standards and Resources.

The Curriculum & Standards 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

Mr Adrian Burrows - Chair of Governors

Local Authorty Governor (appointed by Governors)

Term of Office: 21/12/2018 - 20/12/2022

Early Reading

Health and Safety

Mrs Gemma Griffiths

Clerk to the Governors

Appointed 01/06/2024

Mrs Philippa Carter - Headteacher

Staff Governor (ex officio)

Safeguarding

Member of Curriculum & Standards and Finance Committees

Mr Tom Ackland - Deputy Headteacher

Staff Governor

Reverend Peter Ostli-East - Vice Chair of Governors

Foundation Governor (ex officio)

Appointed 09/05/2011

Behaviour & Welfare Governor

Mr Ed Fletcher