The Governing Body
When considering the powers, duties and responsibilities of the School’s Governing Body as a whole, note must be taken of the following two-part definition contained in the ‘Guide to the Law for School Governors’:
- ‘The Governing Body has general responsibility for the conduct of the school with a view to
promoting high standards of educational achievement’ (Section 21, Education Act 2002) - ‘Governors should act at all times with honesty and integrity and be ready to explain their actions
and decisions to staff, pupils, parents and anyone with a legitimate interest in the school’.
Accountability
The second part of the overall definition is clearly stating that accountability is at the heart of school governance. In
has been summarised in a very helpful way, as follows:
- Assuring high standards of education
- Ensuring value for public money by demonstrating efficient and appropriate allocation of resources
- Ensuring effective school management and organisation
- Ensuring that everything is done and everyone is operating to common, agreed aims and objectives
