This role description has been produced for local governors, known hereafter as ‘Governors’, serving on Local Governing Bodies (LGBs). 

Why do we have LGBs?

All children deserve and should expect to receive a high standard of education. Governors provide localised support and challenge to its school, ensuring the needs of staff, pupils and the community are met.

Relationship between LGBs and the Trust Board

The Trust Board has established LGBs for each school within the Trust. Governors should read the Trust’s Scheme of Delegation to fully understand the responsibilities delegated to them. While Governors maintain strategic oversight of the workings of their schools, the accountability for each school rests with the Trust Board. The Department for Education states that the Trust Board is responsible for three core functions, as follows:

• Trust Board: defines the Trust vision for high-quality inclusive education in line with its charitable objects. It establishes and fosters the Trust’s culture, and sets and champions the Trust strategy

• LGB: supports by championing the Trust strategy at local level and monitoring the School Development Plan

• Trust Board: has robust effective oversight of the operations and performance of the Trust, including the provision of education, pupil welfare, overseeing and ensuring appropriate use of funding and effective financial performance and keeping their estate safe and well-maintained

• LGB: supports by monitoring local-level provision of education and pupil welfare, including use of Pupil Premium and Sports Premium

• Trust Board: has strategic oversight of relationships with stakeholders. 

• LGB: supports by having meaningful engagement with pupils, parents, staff and the local community

Responsibilities 

Responsibilities are delegated to LGB to support the Trust Board. The responsibilities are grouped below under the four ‘S’s: Safeguarding, SEND, Standards and Stakeholder engagement. 

Safeguarding

• Receive termly Safeguarding, Health and Safety and Wellbeing report from the Headteacher

• Foster a culture that prioritises the safety and wellbeing of all pupils and staff in the school.

• Appoint a Safeguarding Link Governor to work with the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) to ensure that safeguarding procedures are effective – see separate Job Description for Safeguarding Link Governor

SEND

• Monitor the overall effectiveness of the school’s SEND provision, referring to pupil outcomes and other relevant data.

• Seek assurance that staff are trained to implement pupil strategies and support plans.

• Appoint a SEND Link Governor to work in partnership with the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) as well as other stakeholders to ensure that pupils with SEND are well-supported, included in all aspects of school life and have access to the resources they need to succeed – see separate Job Description for SEND Link Governor

Standards

• Ensure that the Trust’s vision, ethos and strategy is adopted and applied by school leaders

• Work with senior leaders to agree the School Development Plan and monitor its progress

• Monitor school performance and improvement through regular reviews of performance data, including attainment, attendance rates, and pupil progress, to ensure that the school is meeting its targets

• Ask probing questions to ensure a robust understanding of the working of the school, including with regard to the curriculum, teaching & learning, personal development and pupil behaviour

• Establish a strong relationship with the Headteacher in order to provide effective support and challenge, including celebrating school successes 

Stakeholder engagement

• Oversee and contribute to engagement with key stakeholders such as parents, staff and pupils

• Speak with Ofsted during inspections

• Represent the LGB at school events from time to time e.g. end-of-year performances, summer fair etc.

Panels

When required, Governors may be expected to serve on panels in order to: 

• Hear grievances and disciplinary matters

• Review decisions to exclude pupils

• Deal with formal complaints in line with the Trust’s complaints procedure

Contribution to the LGB

Governors should ensure that they are making a positive and meaningful contribution to the committee by:

• Attending meetings, reading papers and preparing questions for senior leaders in advance

• Establishing and maintaining professional relationships with senior leaders and fellow Governors

• Getting to know the school, including visiting the school occasionally during school hours 

• Undertaking induction and engaging in ongoing training

All those involved in Connect Education Trust governance will: 

• Promote equality of opportunity 

• Follow safeguarding and child protection policy, guidelines and procedures 

• Promote positive attitudes and behaviours

• Promote the Trust values of Care, Empower and Create

• Be committed to the Nolan seven principles of public life: Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty and Leadership

• Promote the School and Trust in the community

• Have regard for and act in accordance with health and safety policy/practice 

• Celebrate success of pupils and staff 

  
  

All Connect Education Trust Schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Therefore, all employees and volunteers working at the Trust are expected to share this commitment. The Trust and its schools are committed to ensuring that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment or is disadvantaged on the ground of gender, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status or race. We encourage expertise and a staff that supports one another to develop their own practice by creating remarkable futures for all pupils.