Mutual understanding and co-operation in a professional environment leads to a more successful governing body.
The governing body expects the school will:
- understand and respect its statutory role and purpose
- recognise the shared commitment to school improvement and securing the best outcomes for every child
- respect governors as volunteers who bring other skills, experiences and perspectives and value their contribution
- work openly with the governing body and provide clear, concise and relevant information on which to base decisions
- enable all governors to become involved in the life of the school
- contribute to the induction, training and development of governors
- ensure that where educational jargon is unavoidable it is at least explained
The school expects the governing body will:
- respect the professional expertise of the headteacher and staff
- work openly in partnership with the headteacher and staff for the benefit of the school and its pupils
- demonstrate its commitment, collectively and individually
- act and take decisions that are in the best interests of the school and not those of self, individuals or groups
- support the school with parents and in the community
- recognise the need for both governor induction and on-going training and development
The expectation of individual governors is that they will:
- enhance the work of the governing body to enable a strong focus on raising standards so that every child achieves his/her potential
- demonstrate their commitment by getting to know the school and becoming involved in school life and activities
- take personal responsibility for their ongoing training and development
- prepare for meetings so that they are well informed, having at minimum read all the papers sent out with the agenda
- attend meetings (governing body/committees/working group) and play an active part
- support the school with parents and in the community
- recognise the corporate status of the governing body and the concept of collective responsibility
- respect confidentiality and the need to act with circumspection