The Governing Board of The Priory School Hitchin welcomes you to our school website. Our Governors are volunteers who bring experience, challenge and support to help ensure that The Priory continues to provide a happy, safe and stimulating environment for every student.
The Governing Board at a Glance
15
Governors on the Governing Board
3
Committees supporting the Board
3
Key strategic responsibilities
Meet the Governing Board
Our Governing Board includes representatives from across the school community, including parents, staff and members of the local community. Governors work collectively to provide strategic leadership, support the school and hold school leaders to account.
What does the Governing Board do?
The Governing Board is responsible for the strategic direction and oversight of the school. Governors do not run the school day to day — that is the responsibility of the Headteacher and staff — but they provide support, challenge and accountability at a strategic level.
Strategic Direction
Ensuring clarity of the school’s vision, ethos and strategic direction, including its priorities for improvement.
Accountability
Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its students, alongside staff performance management.
Financial Oversight
Overseeing the school’s financial performance and ensuring that its resources are used effectively and provide value for money.
The Governing Board also ensures that the school meets its relevant legal and statutory responsibilities through an appropriate framework of policies and procedures.
Our Committees
The work of the Governing Board is supported by three committees. The Board and its committees normally meet each term, with Governors also visiting the school during the working day to develop their understanding of school life.
Finance & Resources
Provides oversight of financial management, resources, premises and the effective use of school funds.
Curriculum & Progress
Provides strategic oversight of curriculum, teaching, learning, attainment, progress and school improvement.
Wellbeing & Inclusion
Provides oversight of wellbeing, inclusion, safeguarding-related strategic matters and the wider student experience.
How We Work
Governors aim to be a critical friend to the school — offering support while also asking challenging and constructive questions. They work collectively and in the best interests of The Priory School as a whole.
Be Informed
Governors prepare for meetings, understand the School Improvement Plan and take opportunities to learn more about the school.
Be Involved
Governors contribute to committees, working groups, school visits, training and important school events.
Challenge Constructively
Governors contribute actively to discussion, ask appropriate questions and provide support and challenge to school leaders.
Governor Commitment
Being a Governor is an important commitment. Governors are expected to take an active role in the work of the Board and contribute their time, experience and skills to support the school.
- Join at least one Governing Board committee.
- Attend Full Governing Board and committee meetings wherever possible.
- Act as a Link Governor for at least one area and undertake at least one school visit each year.
- Respond promptly to communications and come prepared for meetings.
- Contribute actively, constructively and respectfully to discussions.
- Support at least one significant school event each year.
- Keep the School Improvement Plan central to Board and committee discussions.
- Complete at least one Governor training activity and one cluster training activity each year.
- Participate in appropriate ad hoc groups, such as recruitment panels or Headteacher appraisal.
Code of Conduct
Governors are collectively responsible for the decisions of the Governing Board and are expected to act with integrity, professionalism and respect. The Code of Conduct sets out the responsibilities of Governors, including confidentiality, conflicts of interest, relationships with stakeholders and the proper exercise of the Board’s collective authority.
Read the key principles of the Code of Conduct
Role and responsibilities
Governors understand the distinction between the role of the Governing Board and that of the Headteacher. Individual Governors have no legal authority unless specifically delegated and may only speak on behalf of the Governing Board when authorised to do so.
Governors accept collective responsibility for Board decisions, act fairly and without prejudice, support the school’s ethos and reputation, and actively support and challenge the Headteacher.
Commitment
Governors recognise that the role requires a significant investment of time and energy. They participate actively in committees and working groups, attend meetings wherever possible, undertake appropriate school visits and complete relevant training and development.
Relationships
Governors work together as a team and promote constructive relationships. They express their views openly, courteously and respectfully, while developing effective relationships with the Headteacher, staff, parents, the local authority, partner agencies and the wider community.
Confidentiality
Governors maintain appropriate confidentiality regarding confidential matters and information relating to individual staff or students. They exercise care when discussing school business outside formal meetings and do not reveal details of Governing Board votes.
Conflicts of interest
Governors declare relevant financial, business and other interests and identify conflicts of loyalty where appropriate. Governors act in the best interests of the school as a whole rather than as representatives of any particular group.
The Nolan Principles
Governors are expected to uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life:
- Selflessness
- Integrity
- Objectivity
- Accountability
- Openness
- Honesty
- Leadership
Breach of the Code
Concerns regarding a potential breach of the Code of Conduct should normally be raised with the Chair of Governors so that they can be considered constructively. Suspension or removal should be a last resort where other approaches have not resolved the matter.
Key Documents
Further information about the work and responsibilities of the Governing Board is available in the documents below.
The Governing Board is committed to supporting The Priory School in providing a happy, safe and stimulating environment in which every student can thrive.
