The Governing Body of St Mary's aims to establish a culture that promotes excellence, equality and high expectations for all our children.  We value diversity and continue to ensure equality of opportunity for all, overcoming any potential barriers to learning. We aim to ensure that every child is working to their full potential; becoming independent and committed life-long learners. 

• Working in partnership with the school, the Governors aim to provide the best possible education for its pupils by:
• Thinking and working strategically to help to raise standards
• Monitoring and evaluating progress towards the school's priorities and targets
• Supporting the Headteacher and staff as well as challenging their expectations
• Accounting to all stakeholders for the school's overall performance and for the decisions they have made. 

 Governors' Role and Responsibilities

The Governing Body has a range of duties and powers including a general responsibility for the conduct of the school.  The Governing Body's objective is to promote high standards of educational achievement including:

• setting targets for pupil achievement;
• managing the school's finances;
• making sure the curriculum is balanced and broadly based;
• appointing staff and reviewing staff performance and pay

The Governing Body must exercise its functions with a view to fulfilling a largely strategic role in the running of the school.  It should establish a strategic framework by:

• setting aims and objectives for the school;
• adopting policies for achieving those aims and objectives;
• guiding and supporting the school's work and challenging for further improvements to help raise standards;
• to act as a critical friend to the school;
• making creative use of resources;
• ensuring that the school is accountable to the children and parents it serves, to its local community, to those who fund and maintain it, as well as to the staff it employs.

The Governing Body should monitor and evaluate progress of its strategies and regularly review the framework for the school in the light of that progress.  The responsibilities and powers of the Governing Body have to be exercised in partnership with the Headteacher and staff.  Governors do not intervene in the day-to-day running of the school.

Instrument of Government

Govering Body Statement of Behaviour Principles

FGB Terms of Reference 

Annual Governance Statement