Governing bodies are required to meet formally a minimum of three times a year. Meeting dates are usually set well in advance and meetings generally last between two and three hours. Governors are expected to be well prepared for these meetings and attendance is expected, with apologies only for good reasons.

Stocks Green Full Governing Body (FGB), meets approximately 5 times a year which includes an all day meeting at Stocks Green (usually in March).

Certain functions are delegated to sub-committees, Stocks Green governing body have the following sub-committees:

• Standards and Curriculum
• Finance and Premises
• Pay and Performance
• Ad-hoc working groups can also be formed for specific purposes, for instance the appointment of a new headteacher

These committees usually meet at least 3 times a year.

The Governing body undertakes a skills audit annually to ensure that as a board it has the right mix of skills to undertake its role – where gaps are found relevant training is planned. Succession planning is also key if you would like to know more about becoming a Governor then please refer to the link below.

In addition some governors volunteer to fulfill specific roles, such as being the Special Educational Needs governor, Safeguarding governor,  Health and Safety governor, or the link governor for a particular year or subject.

Role of The Governors 

Stocks Green School is accountable to the governing body, which in turn is accountable to parents and the community.

The role of the governing body is a strategic one, its key functions are to:

• set the aims and objectives for the school
• set the policies for achieving those aims and objectives
• set the targets for achieving those aims and objectives
• monitor and evaluate the progress the school is making towards achievement of its aims and objectives
• be a source of challenge and support to the headteacher (a critical friend)

The headteacher and Senior Leadership Team are responsible for the operational aspects of the school, and are required to report to and answer questions from the Governing Body on all aspects of the school.

The Governing Board also carries out a number of other important duties, which include:

• Determining how the school's budget is spent
• The appointing and dismissing of staff
• Hearing appeals and grievances
• Forming policy on the school's curriculum and collective worship
• Setting standards for pupils' behaviour and discipline
• Making sure school buildings are welcoming and safe
• Setting and monitoring the school's aims and policies  

The Governing Body is not about fundraising, neither it is about cheerleading for the school - though governors might do both those things. School governors provide strategic leadership and accountability in schools.

Each individual governor is a member of a governing body, which is established in law as a corporate body.  

Further details on the role of the governing Board and Governors can be found below.