School Governors: Frequently Asked Questions

Governing bodies represent the public in the running of the school. School governors bring perspectives from ordinary life. They work with staff and the Local Authority to help the school provide the best possible education for all children and young people. The governors have important responsibilities like managing the school budget, overseeing the curriculum and appointing the staff. There is a reciprocal accountability between the governors and the headteacher and leadership team. The head is accountable to the governing body and the governing body is judged by Ofsted, as part of the leadership of the school and on the extent to which it works in partnership with the head and leadership team. So really schools need governing bodies to be accountable and to support them in the work that they do.