The governors’ role is not about fund-raising, neither is it about cheer-leading for the school – though governors might do both those things. School governors provide strategic leadership and accountability in schools. Governors appoint the headteacher and are involved in the appointment of other staff. In some schools the site is owned by the governing body. It is governors who hold the main responsibility for finance in schools, and it is governors who work with the head teacher to make the tough decisions about balancing resources.

Each individual governor is a member of a governing body, which is established in law as a corporate body. Individual governors may not act independently of the rest of the governing body. Decisions are the joint responsibility of the governing body.

The role of the governing body is a strategic one, its key functions are to:

• set the aims and objectives for the school
• set the policies for achieving those aims and objectives
• set the targets for achieving those aims and objectives
• monitor and evaluate the progress the school is making towards achievement of its aims and objectives
• be a source of challenge and support to the headteacher (a critical friend)

The Principal is responsible for the internal organisation, management and control of the school and the implementation of the strategic framework established by the governing body.