Role of Governing Body
As well as parents, the governing body is made up of governors appointed by the Local Authority (the County Council), school staff, the headteacher and governors appointed by the rest of the governing body (community governors). In voluntary controlled schools there are also foundation governors.
Parent Governors have a four* year term of office and continue to serve even if their child(ren) leaves the school during this period.
What Do Governors Do?
The governors’ work affects most aspects of the school’s work. They establish, with the Headteacher, aims for the school, and approve policies – for the curriculum, behaviour and discipline, for example; and are responsible for the school’s budget and the use and maintenance of the premises. More generally, they are expected to be in touch with the local community and to help guide the school to meet the community’s educational needs. They are also expected to help the school explain to the community what the school is trying to achieve for their children. A leaflet, providing further information, is available either in schools or from the Governor Support, County Hall, Northallerton, tel. 01609 532936, e-mail Governor.Support@northyorks.gov.uk
The governors, together as a body, have a range of legal responsibilities, so being a governor is an important commitment and new governors should be willing to attend training to help them learn what is entailed.
Do Parent Governors have Special Responsibilities?
No. Parent Governors do not have ‘extra’ duties. All governors are equally responsible and discharge their responsibilities as a body, not individually. The Parent Governors speak as parents: they can’t speak for all parents.
Are there any restrictions which could disqualify parents from becoming Parent Governors?
Yes, but they are unlikely to apply to most parents considering becoming a parent governor. The restrictions are contained in the School Governance (Constitution) (England) Regulations 2003, Schedule 6 and subsequent amendment Regulations. A copy of these is available from school. Parents putting themselves forward for election will be required to sign a statement form and return it with a nomination form when an election occurs. If any of the restrictions apply you should not proceed with your nomination as a governor. Also, you are disqualified from election or appointment as a parent governor if you are an elected member of the local authority (or if you are paid to work at the school for more than 500 hours in any twelve month period commencing on 1 August and finishing on 31 July).
Governors are subject to enhanced CRB checks and the elected parent will be provided, by the school with the required website to complete the 1st part of the CRB application, then take their necessary evidences to the headteacher (as detailed in the list of Valid Identity Documents) so the school can complete the 2nd part of the CRB application. The term of office of the successful candidate (s) will only commence once a clear enhanced CRB Disclosure has been received by the school.
How are Parent Governors Elected?
Parent Governors must be people (aged at least 18) who have a child(ren) at the school when they are elected. Nomination forms are available from the school. Each form must be signed by the candidate. Candidates can also make a short statement about themselves – a maximum of 50 words will be allowed and this will be rigidly applied. A simple form for this purpose will be provided with nomination forms.
If more nominations are received than there are places to fill, there will be a secret ballot and the Headteacher will send to each parent, ballot forms (1 per parent) and envelopes for their return. The form explains how votes may be cast.
If the number of nominations received is the same as the number of places to be filled, then those people will be declared elected. If there are fewer, those nominated will be declared elected and it will be for the governing body to fill any remaining vacancy by appointing a parent governor.
The rules for the election are written down in Procedures set by the Local Authority, and these can be inspected at the school.
Minutes of all Full Governing body meetings are available on request from the school office. If you would like to see one or more sets of Minutes, please email admin@goathland.n-yorks.sch.uk or telephone 01947 896230 to request a copy by email or a hard copy.
Goathland School has a "circle model" of governance, where the governing body works as a 'whole team' without any committees, and meets every half term, or more if required. This means that all governors have up to date information regarding the school, and can offer timely support and challenge, as well as take action should the need arise. The governing body may commission assignments or projects arising from the business of any particular meeting which will be recorded in the minutes. The governing body will also at times delegate monitoring activities to either individual or pairs of members. This delegation could relate to statutory functions or to priorities identified in the School Development Plan (SDP). Any delegated decisions will be reported back to the Full Governing Body (FGB).
To support this we have Link Governors (see below) to take a focussed oversight of key areas, and a Pay Committee which convenes twice a year. There are also are committees which only function on an ad hoc basis, including the Complaints Committee and the Disciplinary Committee.
Information about the formal complaints procedure is available on this website together with details of other Goathland school policies.
Link Governor for Safeguarding: Mrs Nicola Atkinson
Link Governor for SEND: Mrs Nicola Atkinson