Governors can best be likened to the non-executive directors of a public company. Their main responsibilities include determining the aims, values and overall conduct of the school with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement.
Specific duties include setting staffing levels, appointing the Headteacher and senior staff, setting and agreeing the school budget, ensuring that a broad and balanced curriculum is delivered, as well as health and safety and the management of the premises.
The Governors work as a team with the Headteacher to raise the standards of achievement for all students at the school; they act as a critical friend by monitoring and challenging.
As set out in the Governance Handbook, all boards have three core functions:
- Ensuring clarity of the vision, ethos and strategic direction.
- Holding the executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the school(s) and its students and the effective and efficient performance management of staff.
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school(s) and making sure that its money is well spent
At The Grange School these duties are discharged at Board level with Governors linked to specific areas of responsibility. The Link Governors work more closely with their opposite number in the school and report to the Board on their specialist area of interest. The Board makes decisions collectively. Whilst some functions may be delegated to committees as well as individuals the Board has established one committee, Appraisal and Pay Review, which meets annually and is chaired by Mr Sherwell. Other committees are convened as necessary for example to deal with student discipline, HR matters and complaints, and a Chair agreed at the time. The work of the Board, and the delegated roles and responsibilities, are detailed in the Standing Orders and Terms of Reference which are reviewed annually.
The Governing Body
The Governing Body is comprised of the following Governors:
- The Headteacher – Mr V Murray
- Governor appointed by the Local Authority – Mr A Sherwell
- Foundations Governors appointed by the Aylesbury Learning Partnership of Schools (ALPS) of which The Grange is a member – Mrs Z Sutcliffe (Chair) Mrs R Corser.
- Governors elected by the parent body – Mr J Middleton, Mrs F Bailey, Mrs S Craker.
- Governors co-opted (appointed) by the Governing Board of which a maximum of two may be staff members – Miss M Bibi, Mrs A Bowden, Mr P Mayhew, Mr A Haycock (staff), Ms N Ellis, Mrs R Myall.
If you wish to view minutes of meetings, please contact our Chair of Governors, Mrs Zena Sutcliffe, via email at [email protected].
To keep informed of the work of our governors, please see the Schedule of Governors’ Meetings.