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The governing board: purpose and responsibilities
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The 3 core functions of the governing board
The Governance Handbook explains these are:
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
- Holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the effective and efficient performance management of staff
- Overseeing financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent
Key tasks and responsibilities
These vary depending on your school type
Download our KeyDoc below to get a sense of what you need to do based on your school type.
Remember, you might delegate some of your responsibilities. Find out more about schemes of delegation for maintained schools, single academies and multi-academy trusts.
It covers:
- Admissions
- Behaviour and exclusions
- Curriculum
- Finance
- Governance
- Parents and the community
- Health and safety
- Pupil wellbeing
- Safeguarding
- Special education needs and disabilities (SEND)
- Staffing
- Pay and appraisal
- Topic: Chair of the governing board
- Challenge and support: finding the balance
- Topic: Clerk to the governing board
- Governor and trustee role description templates
- Topic: Link governors
- The first core function: clarity of vision, ethos and strategy
- Topic: The headteacher's role on the board
- The second core function: holding executive leaders to account
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