Governing Body

School governors form one of the country's largest voluntary groups, with around 345,000 members contributing to strategic development and raising standards of achievement in over 30,000 schools.

School governors are drawn from different parts of the community, such as parents, staff, the local education authority, the community, and other groups.  This helps to ensure that the governing body has sufficient diversity of views and experience, whilst avoiding governors of a particular category ‘representing’ that group on the governing body. 

The governing body has a range of duties and powers and a general responsibility for the conduct of the school with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement, including setting targets for student achievement, managing the school's finances, making sure the curriculum is balanced and broadly based, as well as other responsibilities.

The governing body has considerable discretion as to how to discharge its responsibilities but is required to constitute itself in line with the regulations and to appoint a chair and vice chair.  The governing body may delegate certain responsibilities to certain governors or committees of governors, although in general, it is not compelled to do so.