Welcome to our Governors’ section.

A Message from our Chair

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to Whitefriars Primary School, on behalf of all the Governors.

As school Governors, we have an important role in monitoring the safety, welfare and education of all our children. We work collaboratively with the Head Teacher and Senior Management Team of the school and are legally responsible for ensuring the school provides the best possible education to all its pupils according to their needs and abilities and alongside that, to ensure that the school is well-managed and financially sound. To do this all, we work as a team with children, staff and parents in an open and caring environment where everyone feels valued.

As a Governing Body we are very proud of our children and the school community and we would like to thank all parents and staff for the support and encouragement they give. For children, this support nurtures key social and creative skills especially in the early years and helps build confidence and self-esteem. Parent interest and support in promoting the school is invaluable and ensures Whitefriars has a strong partnership with the local community.

The Role of the Governing Body

The role of the Governing body is to help shape the strategic direction of the school and to safeguard the public interest in the school. As our role is strategic, we do not get involved in the day to day running of the school; this is the responsibility of the Head Teacher and the Senior Management Team. We ensure that they are accountable for decisions and actions taken. We oversee the maintaining of and improvement of standards of achievement within our school. We are also responsible for ensuring that the school’s policies and administration meet statutory requirements and that our children are able to maximize the educational opportunities provided. We support the school in its continuous drive to improve the already high standard of education provided to our children. We are the critical friend of the school.

The Governors are appointed to provide: -

• An independent view
• A wide experience of the outside world
• A visible form of accountability for the head teacher and staff of the school
• A focus on long term development and improvement
• Accountability to the community for the use of resources and the standards of teaching and learning in the school
• Support for the head teacher and staff.

The Governing Body are the strategic planners of the school, we

• Employ others to carry out the work
• Appoint the head teacher who is responsible for the day to day management of the school
• Agree policies and practice which allows the head teacher to carry out their responsibilities
• Agree principles and targets for improvement
• Support and challenge the head teacher
• Review our own working practices

Individual Governors will also be involved in some of the following: -

• School improvement plan
• The curriculum
• Head teacher performance management
• Staff appointments
• The financial management of the school
• The training of governors

If you are interested in becoming a Governor, have any questions or any suggestions and would like to contact me, you can leave a message at the office and I will contact you.

Clare Atthews

Chair of Governors