Our Governors

Letter from the Chair of Governors

Federation Annual Governance Statement

Welcome to the Governors’ page. Here we’ll tell you about the make-up and work of the Governing Board, and how it supports the School on a day-to-day basis.

Governors have a responsibility for managing the School, making sure that it is run efficiently and effectively. We set objectives, agree targets, budgets, policies and priorities.

We work closely with the Executive Headteacher to ensure that resources are used to the best advantage of the children, and that every child has the best chance to fulfil their potential. We act as critical friends, discussing, questioning and refining the way the schools operate. We’re here to answer to parents/carers and the wider community about how the schools perform.

Probably our main job is to make sure the schools provide a good quality education and give value for money. Raising educational standards is a key aim for every school. Governors have a vital role to play in ensuring there are high expectations for each and every child in terms of achievement and wellbeing.

As Governors, we’re proud of Carleton Rode and Forncett St Peter Schools, their children and staff. We’re also proud of our results – not just the academic ones, but the less tangible ones that show in the way the children conduct and express themselves, and how they consistently have a “feel good” factor about the schools and their place in them.

Governors are regularly in the schools to examine and review practice and procedure and they also support learning and extra-curricular activities. As in a lot of small schools, many Governors are parents/carers whose involvement brings with it a commitment and understanding that helps foster a family feel in both school communities.

However, the make-up of the Governing Board reflects its wider responsibilities to the community, in particular the fact that it is supported by and derives its ethos from, the Church of England. So while some Governors are elected parents/carers and members of staff, others are appointed through the Diocese of Norwich, Carleton Rode and Forncett St Peter Parochial Church Council and the Local Authorities that serve the village. Governors serve for a period of four years, but are usually eligible for re-appointment which helps give valuable continuity.

Being a governor today is a challenging but rewarding role. As well as two full meetings of the Governing Board per term, there are regular committee meetings, training sessions and responsibilities linked to Ofsted inspections, both in terms of preparation and formulating effective responses to the Inspectors’ findings.