Governing Body

In all types of schools, governing bodies should have a strong focus on three core strategic functions:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction 
• Holding the head teacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff; and
• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent 
• The Department of Education explains that the purpose of having a governing body is to:
• Help the school to set high standards by planning for the school's future and setting targets for school improvement 
• Keep the pressure up on school improvement 
• Be a critical friend to the school, offering support and advice 
• Help the school respond to the needs of parents and the community 
• Make the school accountable to the public for what it does 
• Work with the school on planning, developing policies and keeping the school under review 
• Exercise its responsibilities and powers in partnership with the headteacher and staff 
• Not intervene in the day-to-day management of the school unless there are weaknesses in the school, when it then has a duty to take action. 

Our Governing Body at Brentford is a group made up of twenty parents, school staff (including the Head Teacher), and people from the local community who together oversee the development of the school. 

Governors do not manage the school, that is the responsibility of the Head Teacher and Leadership Team but they do help determine the aims and values of the school, the priorities for development and help to monitor that the decisions they are making are having the desired effect.  

Governors need to be willing to work as part of a team, read papers, attend meetings and ask constructive questions. There is free training available and plenty of advice and support from the school and other members of the Governing Body. All Governors need to be willing to consider the interests of all children and families in the school.

The Governing Body has three Committees:

Human Resources

It is the responsibility of the Human Resources Committee to take the lead role within the governing body to consider all matters relating to staffing including:

• Vacancies and appointments
• Staff development
• Performance management
• Absence
• Disciplinary proceedings
• Grievance proceedings
• Redundancy
• Early retirement requests
• Pay 
• Recruitment and Retention

Julie Woodward is Chair of Human Resources.

Human Resources ‘Terms Of Reference

Pay committee Terms of Reference

It is the responsibility of the Achievement; Progress and Pupil Welfare Committee to take the lead role within the governing body to ensure that the school provides a curriculum which is:

• Balanced and broadly based that includes the National Curriculum, religious education, drug education, personal, social, heath and citizenship and sex education
• Promotes spiritual, moral, social and physical development of pupils and society
• Prepares pupils for the next stage of their school education
• Helps to prepare pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life

Nicola Gouldstone is Chair.

Achievement; Progress & Pupil Welfare Terms of Reference

It is the responsibility of the Premises and Finance committee to: 

• Monitor the financial administration of the school
• To prepare the annual budget for approval by the whole Governing Body
• To authorise any necessary changes in the course of the year
• To plan ahead for the financial wellbeing of the school
• To deal with all matters related to Health and Safety
• To deal with all matters related to premises
• To act as an Audit Committee

Simon French is Chair of Premises and Finance

Premises and Finance Terms of Reference

All minutes of meetings are available on email request through the Councils clerk to the governors Caren Benn - cbenn@brentford.hounslow.sch.co.uk

You can download the Guide To the Law For Governors *here.