Governing Board

Our Governing Board

All maintained schools in England have a Governing Board, which plays a key role in school leadership. Governors act as critical friends—supporting, challenging, and asking questions to help the school improve.

At Fielding, our Governing Board is proud of the school’s achievements and is committed to helping it become outstanding in all areas, giving every child the best possible start.

The Board works closely with the Headteacher, staff, and the Local Authority. While the Headteacher manages day-to-day operations, governors oversee:

• Staffing and recruitment
• Curriculum and learning
• School buildings and resources
• Financial management

Who Are Our Governors?

Our Board includes:

• Parents
• Staff members
• Local community representatives
• Local Authority representatives

Governors meet each term as a full board and in two main committees:

• Pupils & Achievement Committee
• Resources Committee (staffing, premises, finance)

They also take on specific responsibilities, such as safeguarding or curriculum areas. The Board sets the school’s strategic direction, monitors performance, and ensures policies are in place for areas like health and safety, behaviour, and performance management.

Transparency

Meeting minutes are approved at the following meeting and are available on request. Please contact the school office for more information.

Skills Required of School Governors

Governors are not expected to have all the necessary skills individually, but collectively the Governing Board should cover the following areas:

• Strategic Leadership: Understanding of school vision, values, and strategic priorities; ability to set direction and evaluate progress.
• Accountability: Ability to hold school leaders to account for educational performance and staff development.
• Financial Oversight: Understanding of school budgets, funding, and financial planning.
• Educational Improvement: Knowledge of the curriculum, assessment, and school improvement strategies.
• Legal and Regulatory Understanding: Awareness of statutory responsibilities, safeguarding, and compliance.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Skills in communication, collaboration, and representing the views of parents and the community.
• Teamwork and Commitment: Willingness to contribute time, attend meetings, and participate in training and development.

The NGA recommends that governing boards regularly complete a skills audit to identify strengths and areas for development.

Register of Interests

Governors have a legal duty to act in the best interests of the school. If they have personal or financial interests that could conflict with this duty, they must declare them.

At Burnside, governors:

• Review and sign a register of interests at the start of every meeting
• Declare any personal or other interests that may present a conflict
• Do not take part in discussions or votes where a conflict exists

This ensures transparency and helps maintain trust in the governance of the school.

Membership

All Governing Bodies of community schools can agree on a model for the size and membership of their Governing Body based on what best suits the circumstances of that school.  The size of the Governing Body can range from a minimum of 7 to no maximum number.

The Governing Body of Burnside Primary School has the following members.

Parent Governors

Parents (including guardians/carers) of registered pupils at the school are eligible to stand for election for parent governorship at the school. When a vacancy arises, parents are nominated and then selected by ballot if there are more nominations than vacancies.

Staff Governor

Both teaching and support staff paid to work in the school are eligible for staff governorship. One Staff Governor is elected by the school staff and must be paid to work at the school; volunteers are not eligible.

The Head teacher is a member of the Governing Body by virtue of her position.

Local Authority (LA) Governor

The LA Governor is nominated by the Local Authority (LA). The Governing Body may agree to appoint (or not) the LA nominee, and can also submit eligibility criteria by which a nominee should be selected.

Co-opted Governors

Co-opted Governors are appointed by the Governing Body often to meet the need for a specific set of skills, knowledge or experience.  Co-opted Governors can be people who live or work in the community served by the school, or people who do not work or live close to the school, but are committed to the good governance and success of the school.

Election of parent governors

Parent governors are appointed for a period of 4 years. Vacancies arise at the end of the term or office and at other times.