Chair: role and responsibilities

Whether you're the chair of a maintained school, a trust board or an LGB, understand your role by downloading our role descriptions. Use our skills audits to help you identify your strengths and areas to work on in your role.

Last reviewed on 25 August 2024
School types: AllSchool phases: AllRef: 31680
Contents
  1. Know your main functions
  2. Use our role descriptions
  3. Download our skills audits
  4. Ask for feedback

Know your main functions

As 'first among equals', you don't have any individual power, except in cases of urgency. However, you do have a key leadership role on the board.

Your job is to:

  • Work with school and trust leaders to promote and maintain high standards of educational achievement
    • If you're the chair of a local governing body (LGB), you'll also lead on making sure your LGB stays engaged with your trust
  • Make sure your board sets a clear vision, ethos and strategic direction for the school or trust
  • Work with the board to hold the headteacher or CEO to account for educational performance and the performance management of staff
  • Ensure financial oversight and value for money

If you're chair of an LGB, check your scheme of delegation to be clear on what your board is responsible for, as this varies from trust to trust.

Leading effective governance with strong leadership and clear strategic focus, making sure all statutory