What is a school governor?

Governors are volunteers who collectively make up the school’s Governing Body. The overall responsibility of the Governing Body is to support the school to provide the best possible education for all children.

What are governors responsible for?

• · Helping to decide on the school’s values and aims, agreeing plans on the future direction of the school and checking on progress with these plans.
• · Acting as a critical friend to the head teacher to support and challenge them in managing the school.
• · Deciding how the money allocated to run the school is spent.
• · Interviewing and appointing members of staff.
• · Making sure that the school is accountable to the children and parents it serves, and to its local community.

Who are the Governors at Marine Park First School?

Marine Park First School Governing Body has 17 members, split between the various categories of governor as follows:

• · Seven parent governors (elected by all parents)
• · One local authority governors (appointed by the local authority)
• · Seven community governors (people from the local community, nominated and approved by the Governing Body)
• · One staff governors (elected by the staff)
• · Headteacher

Governors serve for four years although they may be re-appointed for a further period after this time.

Our Governors are:

 Click here to see photographs and a pen portrait of current governors. This will be displayed in the notice board in school.

How can I contact governors?

Governors can be a good source of information about the school and may be able to offer support and advice if you have particular queries. They are happy for you to approach them directly if you see them in school at the start or end of the school day. Alternatively if you leave a message and your contact details at the school office then these can be passed on to a parent governor and they will get back to you. The Chair of Governors can be contacted in the same way. If you prefer to use email then send your message to: Info@marineparkfirst.org.uk  (with the name of the governor you wish to contact in the subject box). Alternatively, you can contact the Chair of Governors directly via jill.bates@ntlp.org.uk

It is not the role of parent governors to deal with complaints. These should be discussed with the relevant member of school staff e.g. a class teacher, or the Head or Assistant Head teacher. The school does have a Complaints Procedure (available here or the school office) if further information is needed on how to have concerns or complaints dealt with.

The Governing Body is always keen to find out the views of parents and other members of the school community on how the school should be developing in the future. Governors may come to school events and/or Parent Teacher Consultation Evenings for this purpose, but are also interested to receive feedback at other times.

What is the role of parent governor?

Parent Governor Representatives (PGR) are Governors elected by other parents to act on behalf of all parents, in an apolitical way. The role of the Parent Governor is to act as a ‘critical friend’ to the Headteacher on discussions and decisions relating to education.  As a Parent Governor at Marine Park First School you will be a member of a committed and active Governing Body.

Governing bodies make their decisions based on the advice of sub-committees. Governing bodies in schools are accountable for:

· the efficient use of public funds

· the quality of education provided

· the wider contribution to the community

· ensuring the School Development Plan is being progressed

You may be entitled to ‘reasonable time’ off work if you are an employee and work in a qualifying occupation. Your employer doesn't have to pay you for your time off, but may choose to do so. At Marine Park First School the term of office for a PGR is 4 years. The time commitment varies but you should expect to need to commit six to eight hours of your time per month as a minimum.

In order to ensure continued efficiency of the Governing Body at Marine Park we have the following expectations of Governors: Attending new governor training and subsequent training as required to fulfil the role of governor;

· Attendance at Full Governing Body meetings at least once a term (normally one meeting per half term);

· Membership of sub-committees which will mean attendance at meetings at least once a term (normally one meeting per half term);

· Involvement in the monitoring of the School Development Plan which includes visits to the school and presenting written reports to the Governing Body (you will be expected to undertake at least one monitoring visit per academic year);

· Taking on roles with specific responsibilities;

· Maintaining effective links with nominated year groups as they progress through the school.

Should you wish to discuss the role of Parent Governor at Marine Park First School in more detail please contact Mr. Easton (Headteacher) or Mrs J Bates (Chair of Governors) via the school on 0191 2534343.

Further information on the role of Governing Bodies can be found on www.education.gov.uk.