The Role of Governors

Governors work on a voluntary basis to support the strategic leadership of the school. Governors typically serve for four years and can have a variety of responsibilities during this time.

Governors – What Do We Do?

• Together with the Headteacher and the Senior Leadership Team, we are responsible for making sure the school provides good quality education. We meet regularly to monitor the progress of children throughout their time at our school.
• We provide challenge and support to the Headteacher, drawing on our knowledge and experience.
• We make decisions together on matters such as performance, targets, school policies and school improvement plans.
• We ensure the school has effective, up-to-date policies in a wide range of areas including child welfare, recruitment, health and safety and financial controls. We also monitor the impact of policies and oversee school budgets and staffing.
• We report on school achievements and respond to inspection recommendations.
• We each have specific areas of focus (for example – curriculum subjects and safeguarding children’s welfare); these roles bring us into school on a regular basis to help improve our knowledge and to ask challenging questions of staff.

In addition to these, Governors are very visible within the school and play an active part in celebrating the success of the children. We try hard to be a part of everyday school life and to find time to support school activities and events.

The Governors can be likened to a “critical friend” of the school, offering support, while pro-actively challenging decisions and asking questions.

Governing Board – How Are We Formed?

We are a Voluntary Controlled School and, as such, our Governing Board comprises Foundation, Co-Opted, Parent, Staff and Local Authority Governors, as defined in our Instrument of Government.

Within our governing body, there are spaces for 13 governors, in the following denominations:

• 2 Parent Governors
• 1 Local Authority Governor
• 1 Staff Governor
• 1 Headteacher Governor (ex officio)
• 5 Co-opted Governors
• 3 Foundation Governors

We operate under a model of governance called 'The Circle Model'. As such, the Full Governing Board (FGB) meets six times a year (once a term) to discuss and report on all key aspects of the school. Governors also work as 'monitoring pairs' to scrutinise in more detail aspects of the work of the school and in particular the progress it is making against its School Development Plan.

Governing Board – Who Are We?

Please see further information in Governor Documents.

How To Become a Governor

Governors are people from all walks of life, who have an interest in the role of schools in society and wish to make a positive contribution to their communities. They have enquiring minds and contribute to the effective running of the school and the educational achievements of its pupils.

The Governing Board is given their powers and duties as an incorporated body. The Statutory responsibilities of the Governing Board are detailed in Section 21 of the Education Act 2002. Governors do not incur any personal liability in respect of any actions or decisions taken in good faith.

If you would like more information or simply to contact the Governing Board, please write to the Chair of Governors at the school address: Churchill CEP School, Rysted Lane, Westerham, Kent TN16 1EZ or email the Clerk: jplant@churchill.kent.sch.uk

Governor Attendance at FGB Meetings 2024-25

Governors' Relevant Business and Pecuniary Interests

This table shows any relevant business and pecuniary interests (as recorded in the register of interests) including:

• governance roles in other educational institutions;
• any material interests arising from relationships between governors or relationships between governors and school staff