About The Governors The Federation Governing Board

The Federation consists of College Park School, Queen Elizabeth ll Jubilee School (QEll) and  the Bi-borough Inclusion Service. There is one governing board for all aspects of the Federation.

Who are the governors?

School governors are people who want to make a positive contribution to the education of children and young people’s education.

Governors are one of the largest volunteer forces in the country and have an important part to play in raising  school standards. They have a range of skills, knowledge and experience including:

• Strategic planning
• Financial, resource and project management
• Human Resources and performance management
• Education policy and school improvement
• Special Educational Needs
• Data analysis
• Safeguarding
• Parent and community links
• Law
• And many others

The Federation Governing Board comprises:

• The Executive Headteacher
• One elected staff governor
• Two elected parent governors
• One Local Authority nominated governor
•       Seven co-opted governors who are recruited for their skills, knowledge      and experience and what they can contribute to the governing body and the Federation.

Governors may not act independently. Decisions are the joint responsibility of the governing board which is established in law as a corporate board.  

What does the governing board do?

Federation governors provide strategic leadership and accountability in schools. 

Governors appoint the Executive Headteacher, the school Headteachers and the Head of the Bi-Borough Inclusion Service and are involved in the appointment of other staff. It is governors who hold the main responsibility for finance and it is governors who work with the Executive Headteacher and senior staff to make the tough decisions about balancing resources.

The role of the governing board is a strategic one. Its key functions are to:

• set the aims and objectives for the Federation
• set the policies for achieving those aims and objectives
• set the targets for achieving those aims and objectives
• monitor and evaluate the progress the Federation is making towards achievement of its aims and objectives
• be a source of challenge and support to the Executive Headteacher (a critical friend)

The Executive Headteacher is responsible for the internal organisation and management. 

and control of the Federation and will work closely with the Headteachers of College Park and QEII  schools and the Head of the Bi-borough Inclusion Service to ensure the implementation of strategic plans established by the governing board.

Although the role of the Governing Board is strategic, they will become involved in “operational” matters if serious difficulties arise.

The chair /Co-Chairs of the Governing Board leads, manages and supports governors as well as chairing meetings to ensure that statutory duties are met for the benefit of children and young people and Federation staff. A balance of support and challenge as a contribution to improving provision.

The Federation has two Committees and a Leadership Group  which supports the work of the Governing Board so that business is managed effectively. For more details, please click on the links below each:

The Finance & Premises Committee has oversight of:

• Financial policy and planning
• Financial Monitoring
• The effective use of financial resources and ensuring that the money is well spent
• The maintenance and development of the schools’ sites and premises
• Premises
• Health and Safety   

Terms of Reference: Finance & Premises Committee click here

The Pupils and Learning Committee has oversight of:

• Pupil progress and achievement
• The quality of teaching and learning   - Ensuring the curriculum meets the  needs of pupils
• Safeguarding
• The work of the Bi-Borough Inclusion Service
• Admissions and leavers
• Pupil attendance
• Pupil wellbeing and pupil voice
• Pupil behaviour monitoring and discipline
• Parental engagement and communication
• Literacy and Numeracy

Terms of reference: Pupils and Learning Committee: Click here

Governors are committed to hearing the views of parents, children and young people, staff and other stakeholders.

Governors visit the schools for some parent events and attend the pupils’ school councils on a regular basis.

To perform their role well, governors are expected to:

• Get to know the schools and services, including visiting the schools during school hours and gaining a good knowledge of the schools’ and services service's strengths and weaknesses. Monitoring visits/monitoring meetings
• Attend induction training and regular relevant training and development events
• Attend governor's meetings and read all the papers before the meeting
•       Act in the best interests of all the children and young people and the schools and      

      services.  

• Behave professionally, as set down by the governing board's Standing Orders, Code of Conduct, including acting in strict confidence when required. 

              What governors do not do:

• Write school policies
• Undertake audits of any sort, whether financial or Health and Safety, even if 
• The governor has relevant professional experience 
• Spend a lot of time with children & young people as the role is mainly strategic
• Fundraise
• Undertake classroom observations to make judgements on the quality of  teaching.
• Do the job of Federation staff
• Get involved in the day-to-day operation of the federation other than to inform strategic decision making unless there are exceptional circumstances.