Skip to content ↓
Westminster Special School

Governors Federation of Westminster Special Schools
& Bi-borough Inclusion Service

Governors

About The Governors The Federation Governing Board

The Federation consists of College Park School, Queen Elizabeth ll Jubilee School (QEll) and the Bi-borough Inclusion Service. There is one governing board for all aspects of the Federation.

Who are the governors?

School Governors are people who want to make a positive contribution to children’s education. Governors are one of the largest volunteer forces in the country and have an important part to play in raising school standards. They have a range of skills, knowledge and experience including:

  • Strategic planning
  • Financial, resource and project management
  • Human Resources and performance management
  • Education policy and school improvement
  • Special Educational Needs
  • Data analysis
  • Safeguarding
  • Parent and community links
  • Law
  • And many others

The Federation Governing Board comprises:

  • The Executive Headteacher
  • One elected staff governor
  • Two elected parent governors
  • One Local Authority nominated governor
  • Seven co-opted governors who are recruited for their skills, knowledge and experience and what they can contribute to the governing board and the 
  • Federation.

Individual governors may not act independently. Decisions are the joint responsibility of the governing board which is established in law as a corporate board.  

All governors are required annually to declare any interests they may have in relevant businesses or other educational establishments. Minutes of Full Governing Board meetings and committee meetings are available if required from the school office.

What does the governing board do?

Federation governors provide strategic leadership and accountability in schools. 

Governors appoint the Executive Head Teacher, the school Headteachers and the Head of the Bi-Borough Inclusion Service and are involved in the appointment of other staff. It is governors who hold the main responsibility for finance, and it is governors who work with the Executive Headteacher and senior staff to make the tough decisions about balancing resources.

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

  • set the aims and objectives for the Federation
  • set the policies for achieving those aims and objectives
  • set the targets for achieving those aims and objectives
  • monitor and evaluate the progress the Federation is making towards achievement of its aims and objectives
  • be a source of challenge and support to the Executive Headteacher (a critical           friend)

The Executive Headteacher is responsible for the internal organisation, management

and control of the Federation and will work closely with the Headteachers of College Park and QEII schools and the Head of the Bi-borough Inclusion Service to ensure the implementation of strategic plans.

If the Federation is temporarily without an Executive Headteacher or serious operational difficulties arise the Chair/Co-chair may need to become involved in operational matters as an unusual exception.

The chair /Co-chairs of the governing board leads, manages and supports governors as well as chairing meetings to ensure that statutory duties are met for the benefit of pupils and Federation staff. They build a relationship with the EHT and Federation Staff and offer a balance of support and challenge as a contribution to improving provision.

The Federation has two Committees which support the work of the governing board so that business is managed effectively. For more details, please click on the links below each:

The Planning and Organisation Committee has oversight of:

  • Financial policy and planning
  • Financial Monitoring
  • The effective use of resources and ensuring that the money is well spent  (staffing resources considered by Full Governing Board).
  • The maintenance and development of the schools’ sites and premises
  •  Premises
  •  Health and Safety  

Click here for Terms of Reference which contains more detail.

The Pupils and Learning Committee has oversight of:

  • Pupil progress and achievement
  • The quality of teaching and learning - ensuring the curriculum meets the  needs of pupils
  • Safeguarding
  • The work of the Bi-Borough Inclusion Service
  • Admissions and leavers
  • Pupil attendance
  • Pupil wellbeing and pupil voice
  • Pupil behaviour monitoring and discipline
  • Parental engagement and communication

 Click here for Terms of Reference which contains more detail.

Governors are committed to hearing the views of parents, pupils, staff and other stakeholders. Governors visit the schools for some parent events and attend the pupils’ school councils on a regular basis. They have a role developing, expanding and strengthening the Federation and supporting the development of partnerships with other schools.  

To perform their role well governors are expected to:

  • Get to know the schools and services well, including visiting the schools during school hours and gain a good knowledge of the schools’ and services strengths and weaknesses.
  • Attend induction training and regular relevant training and development  events
  • Attend governor meetings and read all papers before the meeting
  • Act in the best interests of all the pupils and the schools and services
  • Behave professionally, as set down by the governing board            Standing Orders, Code of Conduct, including acting in strict confidence when  required. 

              What governors do not do:

  • Write school policies
  • Undertake audits of any sort, whether financial or Health and Safety even if 
  • the governor has the relevant professional experience  The only exception to this is in the area of Safeguarding.
  • Spend much time with pupils as the role is mainly strategic
  • Fundraise
  • Undertake classroom observations to make judgements on the quality of teaching.
  • Do the job of Federation staff
  • Get involved in the day-to-day operation of the Federation other than to inform strategic decision-making.  The only occasional exception is explained above.
Back to Top