Literacy: role of the link governor

Understand your role as a literacy link governor and questions you can ask literacy subject leaders to challenge and support them.

Last reviewed on 21 February 2023
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 4389
Contents
  1. Your role
  2. How to monitor your subject
  3. Questions to ask the subject leader
  4. Data questions to ask the subject leader
  5. Ofsted and the curriculum

We worked with our associate education experts, Jane Owens, Lorraine Petersen and Nicki Wadley to write this article.

Your role

In your role, you should do the following:

Work closely with the subject lead

You're not expected to be an expert, to judge the subject the same way an inspector would, or to know as much as the headteacher.

You need to work closely with the subject lead to get the insights you need to help the board hold staff to account and drive improvement.

Be the board's specialist

Your job is to act as the link between governors and staff and to report to the board on things like:

  • Subject delivery
  • The impact of interventions
  • Use of resources
  • Attainment and progress

Bring your more detailed knowledge of the subject to important decisions (for instance, about school improvement priorities or