The Role of the Governors
The school has a board of governors appointed by a number of representative community groups made up as follows:
- 8 Foundation governors (appointed by the Derry Hill Parochial Church Council), at least 3 of whom must be parents
- 1 governor appointed by the Local Authority
- 2 parent governors (elected by the parents of the school)
- 3 staff governors (appointed by the staff and including the head teacher)
The governors are responsible, together with the head teacher for the long term strategic direction of the school community. The governors are ably assisted by a Clerk to the Governors who undertakes all the administrative tasks.
The governor’s role can be described as the “critical friend”, providing a balanced view across the whole community, hence the broad representation. Our school is Church Aided and the Christian ethos is therefore central to all our decision making and planning. This is demonstrated through our vision, values and goals. Our links with the LA and the Diocese is strong and supportive. We must at all times liaise with these partners in delivering our School Development Plan.
The governors meet as a whole body 3 times a year, with sub committees appointed to make decisions in specific areas:
- Finance and General Purposes
- Curriculum Effectiveness
- Staffing
- Data Analysis
The Chairs of the sub committees meet as a strategic planning group 3 times a year, to help shape the School Development Plan and ensure the governing body operates in the most effective way.
No special qualifications are needed to become a governor as governor training is provided by the LA. All governors are appointed to serve for 4 years and act in a voluntary capacity. We are also able to appoint Associate members, who may have specific specialisms to bring to the school. We are always pleased to hear of anyone interested in becoming an Associate member or governor and would suggest you contact the Clerk to Governors.