Governors

Governors of Honington School    (4 Year Term of Office)

All appointed by Suffolk County Council and The Diocese of St Edmundsbury & Ipswich

To view our Governors’ details, please click here.

 

To contact the Chair of Governors, Rev Karen Burton, please telephone the school on 01359 269324 or email admin@honington.suffolk.sch.uk (FAO Chair of Governors)

How do Governors know that Honington Primary School is a Good School?

School Governors work on behalf of the pupils, parents and staff ensuring that the school is well led and managed, that legal requirements are met and that everyone is achieving well. The Governors’ role is to have an overview whilst the Headteacher and her staff determine and carry out the daily smooth running of the school. Given that Governors are not in the school on a daily basis, the question is how do they know that the school is doing as well as possible and, in particular how do they gather evidence of this?

Governors receive their evidence of school performance in three main ways :

  • Written information from school, local and national sources;
  • Conversations with pupils, parents, staff and others in the school community; and
  • Direct observations during school visits.

Finding out through written information :

A key document for Governors is the annual School Improvement Plan setting out the main priorities and actions which are updated constantly. Termly whole Governing body meetings receive updates on progress against the plan and make any necessary adjustments. The Headteacher’s termly written report covers pupil and staffing matters, including data on pupil performance. Governors are able to compare the performance of different groups in the school and compare the school’s achievements to those of schools in Suffolk and Nationally. The budget position reports and explains any variations from planned expenditure. Between these meetings smaller committees meet to cover budget, personnel, health and safety, safeguarding, assessment and safeguarding areas.

Documents allow Governors opportunities to celebrate successes and raise challenging questions.

Finding out through conversations and surveys :

Governors mainly live and work in the local community and are therefore well positioned to act as advocate for the school and gather opinions. Parent Governors play a particular role in developing an awareness of current parental views and issues. More formal opportunities present through Governors talking directly to pupils and staff and carrying out surveys on planned and implemented school developments.

Gathering perceptions allow Governors to match plans to actual experiences. This enables effective evaluations of communications and developments and supporting setting of future priorities.

Finding out through direct observation :

The most vital form of evidence is seeing things first hand although inevitably only as a “snapshot” of what is happening. The Governing Body has a commitment to making regular school visits during the working day. These are often paired visits, (so that Governors have shared experiences). Activities include “learning walks” with the Headteacher or one of her staff, spending time in a classroom or activity, (such as observing assemblies and playtimes) and sessions with groups of pupils on specific topics. The school environment is evaluated and pupils work in books and displays scrutinised.

School visits allow Governors to see plans in action and determine whether development priorities are appropriate. Relevant questions can be raised and successes acknowledged.

Governors build a complete picture from hearing about plans and priorities, comparing the school to others locally and nationally, sounding perceptions and seeing improvements being implemented. In this way they gain an overview so that they can both challenge and support all in the school community.

A full list of Governors can be found on the school website and the Chair can be contacted through the school office. An important part of the Governors’ role is to gain an understanding of the views and gather ideas from all involved in the school community; parents being an essential part of this. Parent governors are often available when delivering and collecting their own children at the start and end of the school day. Governors will be present at parent’s evenings and school events for informal conversations, (more formal contacts are made and public copies of Governing Body minutes are available through the school office). We welcome contact and are open to suggestions on ways that communications can be improved.