School governors are volunteers who wish to play a part in the oversight of a school.  They can be appointed by the local authority or, as in the case of Voluntary Aided schools such as Clandon and Shere, by the Diocese or a parochial church council (PCC), as a “foundation” governor.  Schools are also required to appoint parent (by election) and staff governors.  The Headteacher is normally a governor and, in a church school, the rector or vicar of the parish is usually an “ex-officio” governor.

The Newlands Cof E School Federation’s Governing Body comprises:

• 9 foundation governors (3 Diocesan, 4 PCC and 2 ex-officio)
• 1 Headteacher
• 1 staff governor
• 2 parent governors
• 1 local authority governor

The Governing Body must ‘conduct the school with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement at the school’ (Section 21 of the Education Act 2002).  Governors should provide strategic direction to the school.  They have legal responsibilities for admissions, curriculum, staffing, finance, premises, pupil behaviour and discipline, plus the safety of staff and pupils and must ensure the Headteacher and staff are accountable to the Governing Body in these areas, through visits and receiving regular reports from the school.

Governors act as critical friends of the school by challenging the Headteacher and staff in a constructive way at Governing Body meetings and, perhaps more importantly, at the key management committees: “Children and Learning", "Safeguarding" and "Resources”.  Whilst governors are not expected to be experts in education, they are expected to undertake governor training in relevant aspects of school governance, to equip them to fulfil their role as governor.

Being a school governor is time-consuming: governors must attend at least 3 meetings of the Governing Body each year and they are usually on at least one management committee. Governors visit school regularly.  They also provide support by attending plays, concerts and fund-raising events and communicating openly with parents, sometimes being present at parent evenings.  Governors also act as ambassadors for the school in the community.

If you wish to contact Newlands Federation Governors please do so through the school office in the first instance, by calling either of the school offices:

Clandon tel: 01483 222442 or email info@clandon.surrey.sch.uk

Shere tel: 01483 202198 or email info@shere.surrey.sch.uk.