The Role and Impact of the Governing Body

The governors act as a “critical friend” to the school, monitoring and overseeing the smooth running of the school and supporting and listening to staff and parents. The governing body is responsible for the strategic management of the school and for determining its aims, objectives and policies in accordance with all the relevant legislation.

The head manages the school from day to day and is the governing body’s principal professional adviser who assists it with the formulation and implementation of its aims, objectives, policies and plans.

School governors help schools provide the best possible education for their pupils:

• thinking and working strategically to help raise standards;
• monitoring and evaluating progress towards the school’s priorities and targets;
• supporting the head 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

The Governing Body is part of the leadership team of Binley Woods Primary School and is made up of interested and committed volunteers who challenge and support the school in its work. The governors produce an annual newsletter for parents and attend a range of events at which you can meet them such as parents’ evenings and information evenings. Governors also take part in a range of activities related to school improvement and blog about their work on this page of the website.

Governors meet once a month to evaluate the work of the school. Governors meetings monitor the curriculum and the quality of teaching and learning and standards. They also monitor the school’s budget and financial processes as well as the premises and health and safety systems, and also review policy. Governors with identified expertise work in workshop groups, attend finance meetings, attend meetings with subject leaders and safeguarding and special educational needs meetings, so that they can both support and challenge the Headteacher and other school leaders in their work. Governors audit their skills annually and work together to share the broad range of expertise they have to build capacity across the team. Governors also monitor the finances and long term viability of Woodlands Pre-school along with the quality of the early years provision.

Binley Woods Primary School Governing Body Information 2025-2026