Governors

‘School Governors have a vital role to play in helping to improve educational standards…. The governor role is interesting, challenging and worthwhile.’

The Right Hon. Estelle Morris MP, Former Secretary of State for Education and Skills

Welcome to our Website - a message from the Chair of Governors.

On behalf of the governors, I would like to welcome you to our website. We hope that you find the information useful and informative. Please let us know what you think of it, using the ‘Contact Us' page. We are very proud of the achievements of both the children and staff at the school - now and over the past years. However, we are not complacent. We want the very best for the children, as it is the least they deserve. We want them to achieve well in all aspects of the curriculum and we want them to enjoy learning. When they leave the school, we want them to go with fond memories of interesting experiences in the school and beyond, on trips and visits to various places of interest.

We also hope that the website will help to further develop the vital partnership between parents and our school. Our aim is to engage children in learning in school and parents to gain a better understanding of what their children are learning at school. 

Mr. Peter Firkin

Chair of Governors

C/O Wykeham Primary School

Aboyne Road

Neasden 

London

NW10 0EX

What does a school governor do?

School governors are members of governing bodies, whose purpose is to help provide the best possible education for pupils at the school. Governing bodies are responsible for the strategic management of the school and will make decisions about a wide range of issues.

The core responsibilities involved are:

• Ensuring accountability
• Acting as a ‘critical friend’ to the Head Teacher
• Monitoring and evaluating the school’s progress
• Budgetary allocation and control
• Planning for the long term future of the school
• Setting the school’s aims and values
• Appointing senior members of staff including the Head Teacher

The governing body is usually split in to a small number of committees, with responsibility for either Finance and Premises or Curriculum and Personnel. These committees will meet separately from the main governing body to discuss relevant issues in more detail. Discussion is then fed back at a full governing body meeting.

Who appoints governors?

There are several different groups responsible for appointing governors, although once appointed all governors essentially perform the same role. 

• Parent governors usually have children at the school and have been elected to join the governing body by the parent body.
• Staff governors are elected on to the governing body by staff at the school.
• Community governors are intended to represent the community served by the school and are appointed by the governing body itself.
• Local Authority governors are appointed by the Local Authority of the school.
  

Training, development and support for governors

Training and development is a vital part of becoming an effective governor. It assists governors in dealing with the issues that occur regularly, in keeping up with the many changes taking place in education, and in supporting schools to raise standards.

Who can be a school governor?

Anyone who is eighteen or over, a legal resident of the UK and not disqualified under the School Governance Constitution (England) Regulations is eligible for the role.  You do not need to be a parent or have any particular qualifications to become a governor; enthusiasm and a desire to make a difference are the most important qualities a volunteer can have. Governors can also include people from different walks of life who may have business or other skills. Often just by asking straightforward critical questions of the school on behalf of the community they can have as valuable an influence as the education professionals with whom they work. Becoming a governor could be a way of contributing to the school and learning new skills. Governors would need to be able to commit to attending all meetings.

If you are interested in becoming a governor or would like to find out more, please contact the school on 0208 450 8425.