We have an incredibly dedicated Governing Body here at Nether Stowey CE VC Primary School. They are involved in all aspects school leadership.

Governors volunteer their time and skills to support the education of all pupils, the ethos, vision and values of our school and the most effective use of our resources. Governors meet regularly with the headteacher to make sure the school action plan and high standards of education and financial practice are upheld.

What do governors do?

School governors are volunteers who help schools raise standards. They operate as a board to provide strategic leadership, oversee school finances, and act as a "critical friend" who holds the headteacher to account. They do not manage the day-to-day running of the school.

Governors focus on three core strategic functions:

Setting Strategic Direction: They define the school's vision, ethos, and long-term development plan.

Ensuring Accountability: They monitor the school's educational performance, review student progress, and hold the headteacher to account.

Overseeing Finances: They approve the school budget, ensuring that funding is spent effectively to maximize student outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

Staffing: Helping to recruit the headteacher and making decisions about staff performance management.

Policy Setting: Approving and monitoring crucial policies covering areas like safeguarding, special needs (SEND), and behaviour.

Community Engagement: Listening to the views of parents, pupils, and the wider community, supporting the school continually improve.

Commitment & Requirements

Time – 4-5 hours per month

• Our full governing body typically meets 4-5 times per year.
• Governors also sit on one sub-committee – Education, Ethos, Business or HR which meet between 3-6 times per year
• All governors will need to read preparatory papers in advance of their meetings.
• Most governors will also have a link role where they will visit the school once a term for focussed monitoring and report back to the board on that specific area

Skills: No formal educational qualifications are required but we value a willingness to learn - training and support is available which also provides many useful transferable skills. There are certain professional skills which are always welcome e.g. finance, HR, or management, and as a church school - representatives of the church.

We currently have a number of governor vacancies, including a parent governor vacancy due to retirement or governor terms coming to an end (the standard term to stand as a governor is 4 years, however governors can stand down before their term comes to an end should they wish to). If you would like to ask any questions or find out more please do not hesitate to get in touch by emailing clerk@nstowey.co.uk

Meet The Governors:

Mrs Zoe Hicks, Chair of Governors, Parent Governor, Safeguarding Governor, Numeracy Link

Reverend Eleanor King, Foundation Governor, Ethos Committee

Mrs Jane Ashton, Co-opted Governor, Business Committee

Mrs Stephanie Hinde. Parent Governor, Chair of Education Committee & Literacy Link

Mr Dale Selley, Foundation Governor, Health and Safety Governor, Ethos Committee

Jemma Tudor, Co-Opted Governor, Education Committee

Catherine Buller-Perkins, Co-Opted Governor, Business Committee

Mrs Katy Barnes, Co-Opted Governor, SEND Link Governor

Mrs Katy Coate - Clerk to Governors

If you would like to read the minutes of the Full Governing body please speak to the office.