What it means to be a Governor at BWI

The Governors’ responsibility is a strategic one; setting our school’s aims and values, planning our school’s long term direction and evaluating progress. We are here to support and to challenge. We ask challenging questions to gain a greater understanding of our school and to promote on-going improvements. As BWI is a Voluntary Aided school, we also have the responsibility of maintaining and developing the premises.

The Governing Board is made up of a committed group of volunteers who readily give of their time and energy for the benefit of our school community. We include parents, staff, members of our local community and local churches.

Each Governor is elected for a term of office which lasts for four years, although some people leave earlier and some stay longer. 

All our Governors are part of the Full Governing Body. We also all serve on a sub-committee as listed below. All committees meet twice a term.

We attend training sessions put on by both the Local Governor Support Service and the Diocese to keep up to date with new initiatives and to develop our skills.

Minutes of meetings are available on request from the Clerk to the Governors, Mrs Angie Marchant and for more information on the work our Governors do or to raise a question please contact our Chair of Governors, Mrs Hilary Gotham.

Committees and their responsibilities

Teaching and Learning

To monitor, evaluate and challenge pupil achievement and the quality of teaching, ensuring our school provides a high quality learning experience and delivers a broad and balanced curriculum in keeping with our school’s aims, all pupil needs and legal requirements. The committee will also oversee details regarding admissions, monitor attendance, punctuality and behaviour and maintain links with key stakeholders.

Resources

To ensure our school has strategic plans in place to deliver effective teaching and learning within our school budget and to support and challenge the management and control the financial affairs of our school. They will also carry out checks on the maintenance and development of the school premises to ensure it is a safe, secure and healthy environment for all school activities and to manage the recruitment, working conditions, and performance of all our school’s staff, as their employer.

Children, Families and Community

To provide support and challenge to the leadership of our school and to hold them to account in relation to the quality of educational provision including: the quality of pupil care, guidance, health, well-being and attendance; parental engagement and involvement; the quality of partnerships and community cohesion; behaviour and safety of pupils.

Our Governors (as of September 2021)