Governors

Chair of Governors: Paul Banford

Vice-chair: Nicola Spragg

What do we do?

The Board of Governors' core functions (as definded in the DfE Governance Handbook 2017):

1. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
2. Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff; and
3. Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

We are the ‘critical friend’: our role is to challenge and support as part of the leadership and management of the school. We are responsible for ensuring the school meets all its statutory requirements, ensuring the curriculum is relevant, approving academic targets, appointing staff, reviewing and approving school policies, agreeing and monitoring the school budget, overseeing the Performance Management of the staff and the Head Teacher.

The Governors have a responsibility to ensure the safeguarding of Lower Park's children. We aim to be informed of issues and progress in the school through formal and informal visits; all governors have to pass an enhanced DBS check.

Stucture of the Governing Board

The Full Governing Board typically meets five times a year.  Much of our work is delegated to four key committees:

• Finance
• Personnel
• Pupil & Curriculum
• Environment & Community

Our committee membership and Governors with Special Repsonsibilities are reviewed annually.  The current membership and responsibilities details can be downloaded from this page.

School Strategy Plan

Each year at the Review Day in October, the Governors and staff review the previous academic year and agree what the Main Priorities for the coming year should be. These are then formulated into the School Strategy Plan which is the basis for curriculum planning, budgeting, staffing and resourcing.

Each priority is mapped against the remit of each committee so we can agree strategies, resourcing, etc. and review progress in specific areas each term.  The Summary of the current School Strategy Plan can be downloaded from this page.

Governors Register of Interests

Governors are required to state any relevant business and pecuniary interests, which may affect their role in the school. This includes: governance roles in other educational institutions and any material interests arising from relationships between governors or relationships between governors and school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives). These must be published in a Governors Register of Interests, which is available to download using the link at the top of this page.

Minutes of Governors' Meetings

Copies of the minutes of Governing Body meetings are available from the school office.

Contacting Governors

The Chair of Governors may be contacted via the School Office.