Governing Body Booklet

What do school governors do ?.....Governors have an interest in the role of schools in their community and want to make a positive contribution totheir success, improving the educational standards and achievement of their pupils.The main roles of governors are:1. To provide a strategic view of the school’s aims and vision The governing body has important powers and duties but are volunteers with limited time and resources. It therefore focuses on where it can add value and help the school’s strategy for improvement so that pupils learn most effectively and achieve the highest standards. The governing body should help set, and keep under review, the broad framework within which the headteacher and staff run the school. In all its work, the governing body focuses on the key issues of raising standards of achievement, establishing high expectations and promoting effective teaching and learning.2. To act as a critical friend to the school The governing body also provides the headteacher and staff with support, advice and information, drawing on governors’ knowledge and experience. In these ways the governing body acts as a critical friend to the school. Critical in the sense of its responsibility for monitoring and evaluating the school’s effectiveness, asking challenging questions and encouraging improvement. The governing body exists to promote the interests of the school and its pupils.3. To ensure accountability The governing body is responsible for ensuring good quality education in the school. The headteacher and staff report to the governing body on the school’s performance. The governing body does not always agree to every decision of the headteacher but seeks justification by discussion, questions and refining proposals whilst always respecting the professional roles of the headteacher and other staff and their responsibilities for the management of the school. In its turn, the governing body answers for its actions to parents and the wider community for the school’s overall performance.

The Minster Junior School Governing Body FOUNDATION GOVERNORSChris Moore Chair of Governors Vice Chair of Governors Florence Wilson Canon Colin Boswell Lesley StoutJulie Wattam Lee Taylor Wealands Bell Sharon Odumosu CO-OPTED GOVERNOR Ian James LOCAL AUTHORITY APPOINTED GOVERNOR (Vacancy) PARENT GOVERNORS Mu Ali Stephanie Raphael-Morgan HEADTEACHER STAFF GOVERNOR (Vacancy) Wendy Jacobs

Clerk to the Governing Body : Sherry Wood Frequently asked questions ….How many meetings are held ?Please refer to meeting agenda belowI am interested in becoming a Governors, what should I do ?Please speak to the Headteacher, or the Chair of Governors, or the Vice Chair of Governors, to discuss what isinvolved in becoming a Governor. Please look on our website www.theminsterjuniorscroydon.co.ukat the Governor Page.Where can I find more information about School Governors in Croydon ?Further information about Governor Services can be viewed on the Croydon council website: www.croydon.gov.ukWho can I speak to if I have a concern ?The Headteacher is always happy to discuss queries or concerns with parents. If you have an initial concern, pleasecontact her Email : [email protected] is the procedure for raising an issue related to the school ?All school related queries should be put in writing to the Chair of Governors at the following address: School Office The Minster Junior School Warrington Road, Croydon CR0 4BH or Email [email protected] Governing Body Timetable Academic Year 2015 - 2016 Meeting Autumn Term 2015 Spring Term 2016 Summer Term 2016Full Governors 30/9/15 20/1/16 18/4/16 9/11/15 2/3/16 18/5/16 Meeting 7/12/15 15/6/16 10/2/16 18/7/16Premises Committee 7/10/15 13/4/16 2/11/15 28/1/16Finance Committee 30/9/15 2/3/16 18/4/16 Personnel and Pay 9/11/15 15/6/16 20/1/16 Committee 13/10/15 18/5/16 Raising Standards Committee

A message from the Chair of Governors : Colin BoswellOn behalf of the Governing Body I would like to extend a very warm welcome to all new parents and carers. Fornew parents to the school, we thought we would tell you a little more about what the Governing Body role is withina school.The governing body: sets the strategic direction, objectives, targets and policies; approves the school budget; reviews progress against the budget, plans and targets; acts as a critical friend to the Headteacher and staff by providing support and challenge; appoints the Headteacher.So governors make important decisions on policy and strategy and are answerable to parents and the widercommunity. They help raise the standards and performance of the school by supporting the work of theHeadteacher and the staff. Governors will support and, at the same time, challenge the Headteacher by gatheringviews, asking questions and helping to decide what is best for the school.The governing body carries out its work at present by: conducting most business in monthly full Governing Body meetings; working closely with the Headteacher, the leadership team, Croydon Local Authority, and the Southwark Diocesan Board of Education; committees dealing with Finance, Premises, Raising Standards, Pay and Personnel; governors visiting the school to monitor the actions that the headteacher and staff have taken to drive school improvement and look closely at an area in the School Improvement Plan or of school life; meet with children and parents to seek views on the strengths and areas of development for Parish Church (CE) Junior School at termly Parents EveningsWho is represented on the Governing Body ? 8 Foundation Governors 1 Local Authority Governor 2 Parent Governors 1 Staff Governor

1 Co-opted Governor 1 Headteacher GovernorCommunicating with the Governing BodyThe governors host a ‘Meet the Governors’ session twice in the school year. This is an informal meeting (held in theMain School Hall with refreshments) for parents to meet governors, ask about the role we play in schooldevelopment, ask questions about aspects of school life as well as put forward suggestions for school improvement.If you wish to contact us about a specific issue, a message can be left with the school office.Governors often attend school events and celebrations across the school year. We all take a turn at being ‘Governorof the Month’ and attend a school assembly and speak to the children, as well as visiting classrooms and speaking tostaff.The governors also have an area on the school website where you can find out more about us as well as a regularnewsletter from me.If you are interested in joining our governing body, please contact me via the school office.I look forward to seeing you at various functions across the school year.Yours sincerely,Colin BoswellChair of Governors