The Role and Function of the Governing Body

NunmonktonFoundation Primary School Governing Body is made up of a team of volunteers btoh from within and outside the school community.

The Governing Body provides the School with both vision and strategic leadership. Its members focus on the long-term strategic development and improvement of the school; which includes promoting the effective management of the school, policy making, staff appointments and ensuring the school’s budget is planned well and spent wisely.

The core functions of the governing body are to:

1. Ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
2. Hold the leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the performance management of its staff; and
3. Oversee the financial performance of the organisation and make sure its money is well spent.

Governing Body Key Responsibilities 

Together, the Governors are responsible for:

• Setting aims and targets for the school and checking the school’s progress towards attaining these.
• Developing and monitoring how well the school’s policies and plans are working to ensure our thriving learning community.
• Taking account of the performance of the school and the Governing Body.
• Working with the Head Teacher to make sure that teaching at school is effective and high quality so that the children are making the best possible progress, whilst thriving in a safe, happy and secure environment.
• Taking general responsibility for the school and its budget.
• Challenging and supporting the senior management team and taking opportunities to show interest in and appreciation of staff and pupils.
• Promoting the interests of the school and its pupils in the wider community.

Categories of Governors

There are several different types of Governor:

• Parent/Carer Governor (elected by parent/carers at the school)
• Staff Governor (elected by staff at the school)
• Local Authority (LA) Governors (appointed by the LA)
• Co-opted Governors (appointed by members of the Governing Body. They are intended to be representative of the local community and may add specific expertise)
• Foundation Governors (appointed by The Dorothy Wilson Trust)
• Associate Governors (appointed by the Governing Body; no voting rights)

Nun Monkton Foundation Primary School Governing Body

Our Governing Body comprises 11 members and its meetings are supported by a NYCC Clerk. The Full Governing Body usually meets at least four times a year. As well as this we have two other committees, which usually meet at least three times per year.  The Finance and Resources committee is responsible for ensuring the school budget is spent wisely and ensuring the well-being of the school staff and pupils, also for overseeing the maintenance of the school ground, resources within the school and contracts, as well as any health and safety issues.  The Curriculum and Standards committee is responsible for monitoring the quality of teaching and learning and the school curriculum and assessment.

The Governing Body membership is drawn from parents of current and former pupils, some school staff, members of the village community, and those from the wider community who possess specific expertise that can help to ensure that children attending our School get the best possible education.

Under the Instruments of Governance at our school, the governing body consists of:

• Three parent governors
• One Local Authority governor
• Two staff governors (including the headteacher)
• Three co-opted governors
• Two foundation governors (Foundation governors are appointed by the Dorothy Wilson Trust)

Our Chair of Governors is Mary Shackleton

Our Clerk to the Governors is Leanne Eaton

You can read more detail about our Governors in the documents below