Governors

Welcome from the Chair

On behalf of the governors at St Mary’s Priory Infant and Junior Schools I would like to welcome you to this section of our website, from which I hope you have gained an impression of our fantastic school.

The staff, children, parents, governors and wider community work together at St Mary’s to create a welcoming, safe and stimulating environment where all children can grow and develop into the best they can be. The dedication, commitment and hard work of all those involved to achieve this vision for the children and create an environment “where great lives begin” is evident to anyone who visits our school.

I am proud to be a part of such an amazing community and to work with the rest of the governors to provide support and challenge to the Headteacher and staff at a strategic level to help the school raise the standards of achievement for all pupils and ensure St Mary’s provides the best educational experience possible for the children who come here.

The Governing Body is involved throughout the life of the school from finance and safeguarding to premises management and staff appointments. If you would like to know more, or are interested in becoming a Governor yourself, please don’t hesitate to get in touch through the school office office@stmarysrcpriory.haringey.sch.uk

Best wishes,

Martha Hawting

Chair of Governors

If you would like to become a School Governor, please contact Giedre Addison via office@stmarysrcpriory.haringey.sch.uk

The Role of a School Governor

The role of the school governor is to contribute to the work of the Governing Body in raising standards of achievement for all pupils. This involves providing a strategic view for the school, acting as a critical friend and ensuring accountability.

The individual governor has a responsibility, working alongside other members of the Governing Body, to the staff and pupils of the school, the school’s wider community and where they are representatives, to their particular group (parents, staff, teachers, church; etc).

Responsibilities include:

developing the strategic plan for the school;
determining aims, policies and priorities of the school;
setting statutory and non-statutory targets;
monitoring and evaluating the work of the school;
appointment of staff and ensuring the implementation of a range of personnel procedures;
management of the budget;
securing high levels of attendance and good standards of pupil behaviour;
ensuring that all children in the schools have access to a broad and balanced curriculum which is suitable to age, aptitude and ability, which prepares them for adult life;
ensuring the health and safety of pupils and staff.

Tasks include:

to get to know the school, its needs, strengths and areas for development;
to attend meetings (full Governing Body, committees and working groups);
to work as a member of a team;
to speak, act and vote in the best interests of the school;
to represent the perspectives of groups, where appropriate;
to respect all Governing Body decisions and to support them in public;
to act within the framework of the policies of the Governing Body and legal requirements;
to commit to training and development opportunities.