The Role of the Governing Body

The Governing Body is responsible for ensuring that the school strives for and achieves excellence in its quality of teaching for learning. This is defined by the Department for Education as:

1. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
2. Holding the head teacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff
3. Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure money is well spent.

The Governing Body works with the Executive Head Teacher and the school team to build a common vision and purpose for the school. Together we decide the school's strategy for improvement so that pupils learn most effectively and achieve the highest standards. This is documented in the School Development Plan, which sets out the priorities for the school for the next 1-3 years. 

Governors focus on where they can add most value, drawing on their own knowledge and experience. They act as a critical friend to the school, providing support, information and advice as well as asking challenging questions and pressing for improvements.

If you need to contact the Governing Body please email: chairofgovernors@sendcofe.co.uk

 

Governing Body Meetings

As governors, we do this by meeting as the full governing body each term to look at:

• what has been achieved against the School Development Plan
• information received about the school
• ensuring our statutory duties are being met
• challenging the school and ourselves
• ensuring the strategic direction of the school will meet all pupils’ needs

We also meet as committees to look at different aspects of the school.

We have a Learning and Achievement Committee where we support and challenge:

• how well all children are progressing
• how new strategies are making learning better for children
• how well children with Special Educational Needs and disabilities are being supported
• how more able and less able children are being challenged
• how the children’s behaviour for learning is evidenced and the impact this has on progress
• attendance and how high attendance ensures good progress
• how children are given other opportunities to learn and grow through the school plays, sports day, educational visits

We have a Resources Committee where we support and challenge:

• how the budget is spent and the impact of expenditure
• how staff are included in the school’s performance management processes and the impact this has in the classroom.
• staff access to continuing professional development (CPD) and the impact this has in the classroom
• how we keep the school building and grounds safe and secure
• how we keep children safe in our school and grounds
• how effective safeguarding is in school
• what the children think about the school
• how the school engages with parents

 Building for the Future Fund

What is the ‘Building for the Future’ fund?
Our School is a Church of England Voluntary Aided School. This gives us freedoms many other schools do not enjoy, such as our specific Christian approach to education.  However, it also gives us additional responsibilities for which the School’s Governors have to find funds. For example, upgrading ICT equipment or renovating parts of the school and our outside space.

Whilst the majority of our funding comes from the Government, to access funds for ‘capital’ or building and improvement projects from the Guildford Diocesen Board of Education, we need to contribute 10% of the overall cost of the project. The Governors of our school are almost entirely reliant on parents and carers to support the 10% financing of these projects through voluntary contributions to our Building for the Future fund. 

This money in the Building for the Future fund is held and managed by the Governing Body and has charitable status (allowing us to reclaim gift aid). It will not be used for day-to-day educational expenses incurred by the school.

Why should I donate to the  Building for the Future fund? What is the fund for?
The Building for the Future fund is dedicated to enhancing our school environment, and we need your support to make it happen. Your generous contributions will enable us to improve various areas around our school site, creating a more vibrant and engaging space for our pupils.

The  Building for the Future fund is used for two key areas:

• Contributions towards important building and maintenance works for the School and to provide 10% of the costs of any improvements made to the premises. 
• Delivering substantial enhancements to the School’s technology provision, including new computers and the supporting infrastructure.

In the past years we have upgraded outdoor learning spaces for each Key Stage, created new spaces to support pupils with special educational needs, built shade canopies and increased our inventory of equipment for year-round play. A project to renovate and improve the pupil toilets in the KS1 block will be completed over the 2024 summer school holidays.
 

How much should I donate?
Donating is entirely voluntary. However, the more families that contribute the more we can do to support the school’s plans. Every penny raised goes towards your children and their learning. We ask you to consider making a contribution of between £3-£5 per child, per month, to the Building for the Future fund. 

If every family contributed: 

• £3 per child, per month, we could raise just over £15,000 per year- plus 25% gift aid
• £5 per child, per month, we could raise just over £25,000 per year - plus 25% gift aid

We know that some parents want to contribute much more and we also know that for some parents, this is too much – so please only give what you can afford. All donations are treated confidentially and only the Treasurer is aware of donor details.

Making your donation go further:
If you are a UK taxpayer you can make your donation go 25% further through Gift Aid at no extra cost to you. That means for every £1 donation, we can claim an extra 25p and all you need to do is sign the Gift Aid declaration form!  If you are a higher-rate taxpayer, you can claim tax relief on charitable donations – donating £10 therefore only costs you £6. You may also be able to donate pre-tax using payroll giving schemes or through salary or bonus sacrifice. Please do feel free to contact the School Business Manager sbm@sendcofe.co.uk if you would like to confidentially discuss this.

How do I donate?
If you can, we encourage you to set up a regular monthly donation to the Building for the Future fund. This spreads the cost for you and helps us to understand our future income and plan major investments. You can find all the information you need in the letter attached below. 
 

 Interested in finding out more?

Do you have business expertise and a passion for making a positive difference to children and the community?

Send CofE Primary School is looking to enhance their governing body by taking on governors with a new range of skill sets. 

We are a two-form entry village primary, between Woking and Guildford, formed in 2016 after a merger. We are a “Good” school with good potential to be even better due to the high levels of expertise and commitment from our team of staff, governors and parents. Our children are wonderful, and we are well-supported by the community.

A governing body has a vital strategic role. The Government and Ofsted have high expectations of its ability to hold head teachers and principals to account and drive improvement. 

We are particular interested in finding new governors with any of the following skill sets:

• Finance
• Premises
• Legal
• Fundraising
• Marketing
   

Role

The role of the governing board is a strategic one. Its key functions are:

• Setting the aims and objectives for the school with the Senior Leaders
• Agree on key policies for achieving those aims and objectives
• Set 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 head teacher (a critical friend)

Experience
No previous knowledge of working with schools is necessary as there is full induction training offered both face to face at a range of venues during the evening or daytime or on online options. Staff are also willing to work alongside governors in helping them to understand the school context.

Time Commitment

Each governor would need to attend the full governing body meeting (usually 4 meetings per year, currently 8-10am on Friday mornings) and serve on a subcommittee (usually 3 meetings per year. These are generally timed to suit the committee members.) Cumulatively, approximately a day each term.

For those who have more time, or flexible working options, there are short-term working parties to become involved in which focus on a range of development opportunities in collaboration with staff and the community and the opportunity to participate in a range of celebrations and events throughout the year if you wish. 

To find out more about our school, please look at our website www.sendcofe.co.uk

If you would like to contact the governors directly, please use the following email address: governors@sendcofe.co.uk 

We would be very pleased to meet you.