A Welcome Message from the Chair of Governors
“Governors at Northern Counties School play an important role in the running of the school and have considerable responsibility in setting the strategic direction of the school along with the head teacher and senior leadership team.聽 Governors do not manage schools, this is the role of the head teacher and senior leadership team, but we do oversee the development of the school, the main aim of which is always to provide a high standard of education for all learners of all abilities.聽 In essence, as the accountable body for the school, the governing body has three main roles:
- Provide a strategic view of where the school is heading. This is done by reviewing and agreeing on policies, targets, and priorities and monitoring and reviewing aims and objectives.
- Act as a critical friend to the school. The governing body works with the head teacher to create a clear understanding of the challenges faced in managing the school. The governing body should feel able to question and challenge and this is achieved through trust and mutual respect.
- Hold the school to account for the educational standards it achieves and the quality of education it provides. The governing body uses its collective skills to benefit the children, by gathering views and asking questions to determine what is best for the school.
Our governors have a variety of skills and backgrounds that provide the school with a wide range of expertise and support. What unifies us is our strong commitment to the school鈥檚 vision and ethos. We are a mixture of parent governors, school staff, co-opted governors, and local council representatives.聽 Parent governors have a child in school, are elected by parents of the school, and serve, as do other governors, for four years.聽 We meet regularly to formally discuss the work of the school and look at where we are going and how we can make improvements.
Governors visit the school throughout the year and most have links to specific subjects and their teachers or to areas of the school such as literacy, finance, ICT and safeguarding.聽This provides important opportunities to see the school in action and we enjoy the chance to meet staff and children and learn about what makes NCS so special.
As Chairman of the Governors, I know that NCS is achieving the highest standards for all our children. It is also clearly evident that all the governors, staff, and children feel proud to be part of our school and this is represented in everything that they do.”
Please feel free to email me at any time with any enquiries at jeffery.lough@percyhedley.org.uk
