Governing Board
The Governing board has three core functions:
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
- Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the effective and efficient performance management of staff
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent
Quality of Education Committee (QofE) – The Governors’ Quality of Education Committee meets termly where current progress is analysed and leaders throughout the school are held to account. Robust questioning and challenge ensure that actions are focused around areas for development. The Quality of Education committee scrutinise:
- Intent; curriculum design, coverage and appropriateness
- Implementation; curriculum delivery, teaching and assessment
- Impact; achievement, knowledge and skill development and destinations
Personal Development & Behaviour Committee (PDB) – The Governors’ Personal Development & Behaviour Committee meets termly where items below are analysed and leaders throughout the school are held to account. Robust questioning and challenge ensure that actions are focused around areas for development. The areas that are scrutinised are:
- Behaviour and attitudes; behaviour, attendance and punctuality and safeguarding
- Personal development; careers guidance, citizenship, health and well-being as well as the
- Catholic ethos; denominational self-evaluation and improvement planning
Leadership & Strategies Committee (L&S) – The Governors’ Leadership & Strategies Committee meets to ensure the Headteacher and School Business manager are held to account for the vision and ethos of the school, student experience, Health and Safety and financial aspects of the school including recruitment. Vigorous discussion ensures value for money and that the deployment of resources is linked directly to the school improvement plan
Headteacher’s Performance Management – Three non-staff Governors will have responsibility for conducting the Headteacher’s Performance Review. The review will be carried out with the support of an independent advisor
Pay Committee – This consists of a minimum of 3 non-staff governors who have no interest in the pay proceeding and have declared any such interests
Pay Committee Appeals – This consists of a minimum of 3 non-staff governors who have no interest in the pay proceeding and have declared any such interests
Staff Grievance and Complaints, Staff Absence, Staff Disciplinary and Dismissals and Appeals against Grievance, Absence and Dismissal procedures and Admissions Committee – The Chair of Governors shall nominate any eligible Governor who has had no prior involvement in the case
Roles & Responsibilities of a Foundation Governor of a Catholic School
Foundation Governors form the majority on a Catholic school’s Governing board. They have the responsibility of assisting the Bishop by sustaining and developing the Catholic ethos and distinctive Catholic nature of the school in which they serve. Foundation Governors have a specific commission to ensure that the school, is at all times conducted in accord with the provisions of the Diocese of Shrewsbury Trust Deed. Foundation Governors follow these principles:
- To give clear witness to the teaching of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and assume responsibility for governing the School according to Canon Law, the Catechism, and the teachings of the Catholic Church in general and Diocesan norms in particular
- To comply with the guidance on admissions, staffing, building maintenance and curriculum as published by the Bishop or his delegate through the Diocesan Schools Commission and convey this to the other members of the governing board
- To seek to appoint Catholic teachers who combine personal conviction and practice of the Faith with the qualities and experience required by particular posts
- To represent the Bishop or his delegate on the Governing Body with particular reference to the Catholic ethos of the school by ensuring that the whole curriculum of the school is rooted in an understanding of life in conformity with the teaching of the Gospel and the Catholic Church
- To achieve this, they must ensure that the general religious and liturgical life of the school conforms to Diocesan guidelines. To take particular care that Religious Education has first place in the curriculum, and embraces and enlivens every subject; and that the school follows a truly Catholic programme of religious and moral education approved by the Diocese
- To consider not only the interests of the school in which they serve as Foundation Governor, along with its pupils, staff and parents, but to comply with Diocesan policy and the interests of other Catholic schools and the interests of Catholic education throughout the Diocese
- To be eligible for appointment, enquirers must be practising and committed Catholics. Since holding the office of Foundation Governor is a form of service or ministry in the Church, enquirers have to confirm that they are eligible and willing to serve in accordance with the commission from the Bishop
- The appointment of Foundation Governors is entirely at the discretion of the Bishop of Shrewsbury, or his delegate (Director of Schools), for schools within his jurisdiction
