Nightingale Primary School

The Governing Body

Each school has a board of governors who are chosen by different means, as vacancies arise. Nightingale has 11 Governors, made up as follows:

1 Parent Governor - elected by parents
1 LEA Governor - put forward by the Local Education Authority
1 Staff Governor- elected by the staff
5 Co-Opted Governors - people from the local community and businesses with links to the school, who are invited to be Governors
1 Headteacher - automatically a member of the Governing Body

Governors normally serve for a term of four years. The Chair and Vice Chair of the Governing Body are elected at the first meeting of the school year, and normally serve for at least one year in these posts.

Role of the Governors

Governors are required to monitor and be accountable for any area of activity which affects the school. The role is often described as that of a ‘critical friend’. Governors review and contribute to school policy and practice, and contribute to the writing of the School Evaluation Form and the School Development Plan. They are involved in decision-making issues such as: standards of achievement; curriculum development; spending; personnel; admissions; bullying; inspection; and provision for children with special needs.

Committees are established within the Governing Body to take responsibility for particular management areas. Individual Governors normally serve on two or more committees, according to their skills, expertise or interest.

Usually, Governors meet twice every term, with committee meetings as necessary – at least once every term.