Governing bodies have a strong focus on three core strategic functions:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and direction
• Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of the staff
• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

Each individual governor is a member of a governing body and all decisions are the joint responsibility of the governing body. There are different types of governors – Medina has the following:

• Co-opted Governors – these are appointed by the Board because they have certain skills and experience that the Board think will help the school
• Parent Governors – any parent, or carer, of a registered pupil at the school at the time of election is eligible to stand for election as a parent governor
• Local Authority (LA) Governors – we have one LA governor who is nominated by the LA and appointed by the Board
• Headteacher – the Headteacher is a member of the governing body by virtue of their office
• Staff Governor – teaching and support staff who, at the time of election, are employed by either the governing body or the local authority to work at the school under a contract of employment, are eligible to be staff governors. They cease to hold office when their employment at the school ends.

The full Governing Body meet at least five times a year.

Governors have to act in accordance with the legislation and guidance from the Department of Education.

Parents may contact the Governors directly, but for general school matters, it is usually more appropriate to see the Class Teacher or Headteacher first.

Governors’ Minutes
The minutes of governor meetings are public documents and are open to be viewed by any interested person.

Minutes are available to be read, at school, where the Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher or a member of the Governing Body could be available to answer any questions and explain the context of the issues raised in the minutes. This is to ensure that minutes read in isolation are not misinterpreted.