Governing Body Terms of Reference

The Governing Board has three core functions:

1. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
2. Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its students, and the performance management of the staff;
3. Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure it's money is well spent.

The governing board needs to take a strategic role, act as a critical friend to the school and be accountable for its decisions. Governors carry out a significant level of scrutiny and challenge during sub-committee meetings. The governing board decides the constitution, membership and terms of reference of all committees, and must review these annually.

Terms of Reference

Please note. The responsibilities shown in bold below cannot be delegated to a committee or an individual

1. To agree constitutional matters, including approving any variations to the structure of the Governign Body and procedures where the governing board has discretion.

2. To recruit new members as vacancies arise and to appoint new governors, where appropriate. To ensure elections take place, if required.

3. To hold at least 3 full governing board meetings a year.

4. To appoint or remove the Chair and Vice Chair.

5. To appoint or remove a clerk to the Governing Body.

6. To establish the committees of the governing board and their terms of reference.

7. For each committee to appoint the Chair for that committee

8. To appoint or remove a clerk to each committee.

9. To suspend a governor.

10. To decide which functions of the governing board will be delegated to committees, groups or individuals.

11. To review the delegation arrangements annually.

12. To receive reports from an individual or committee to whom a decision has been delegated and to consider whether any action by the Governing Body is necessary.

13. To approve the first formal budget plan of the financial year (delegated to the 'Leadership & Management committee').

14. To keep the Health and Safety Policy and it's practice under review and to make revisions where appropriate (delegated to the 'Personal Development, Behaviour & Well-being committee').

15. To adhere to the Code of Conduct for Chatsworth High School & Community College Governing Board.

16. To review and examine the Headteacher's Report 3 times a year.

17. To consider and adopt LA policies in light of changes to government legislation, and delegate to appropriate committees

18. To create a panel of governors, as necessary, to address specific issues such as complaints or disciplinary actions.