The Governing Board is accountable for the school’s overall performance – though the school is run on a day to day basis by the Headteacher. We work closely with the Headteacher to set the overall direction and aims of the school and to monitor our progress. We act as a ‘critical friend’ to the school offering a balance of support and challenge.

Our responsibilities include appointing the Head and other senior staff, overseeing the school’s finances, making sure the curriculum is balanced and broadly based and setting targets for pupil achievement. As school governors, we are actively involved in the life and development of Valley School. We regularly visit the school and support and attend a variety of events including Easter, Harvest, Celebration and Leavers’ Assemblies and Christmas productions. Regular visits to the school help us to become familiar with what is happening and consistent contact with staff, children and parents’ enable us to develop and sustain expectations we have challenging the school to improve and progress. We are able to see policies and developments in action in addition to gathering evidence of the outcomes of our decision making. Each year school sends out a questionnaire to staff, pupil and parents to ask them about their experiences of school and the feedback from these help us to inform and develop future plans and areas of focus.

Governors serve a four year term. Parent governors are elected and LA and Community Governors are recommended and approved by the Governing Body.The Governors have three committees – Resources (Finance and Personnel, Premises and Health
and Safety), Pay Committee who review and implement the pay policy, they are also responsible for the performance management of the Headteacher and Curriculum and Evaluation. These are sub committees of the full Governing Body and they make recommendations that are ratified by the full Body.