Governor information

School governors play an important role. This page sets out information about what they do and what to do if you are interested in joining us as a governor.

What do governors do?

The governing body works in partnership with the Headteacher to get the best possible education for the pupils at Chiltern Wood School.

Governors play an important part in the strategic management of the school.

The Governing Body is vital to our success:

  • Governors make important decisions about school life

  • Governor’s decisions directly affect the education and well-being of children

  • Governors can really make a difference in improving standards throughout the school.

The Governing Body

Governors play an important role in improving our children’s education and supporting the staff at the school. Caring about the school and its community is a prerequisite to joining the governing body, and we are always looking to harness the skills and knowledge governors may have to benefit the strategic operation of the school and ultimately the education of our children.

Governors work together and, as such, the amount of time that each of them gives to the role will vary. We have Full Governing Body meetings and sub-committees discuss areas in more detail.

Finance and Human Resources: this committee scrutinises the school finances and discusses staffing.

Curriculum, Parents and Community: holds the school to account for pupil achievement, pupil progress and ensuring there is progress across the school.  The quality of teaching is reported to this committee. Ways of improving communication with parents and links with the community are discussed. It also covers therapies that are required in school.

Safety and Premises makes decisions about the buildings and premises, health and safety, safeguarding and behaviour.

Governors remain accountable for the strategic management of the school with key responsibilities of:

  • Establishing the ethos, vision and strategic direction of the school

  • Holding the headteacher to account for school effectiveness

  • Being accountable to parents and other stakeholders

  • Ensuring financial probity and value for money

Contacting the governing body

The chair of governors can be contacted through the school. If you wish to write to the chair please mark it clearly ‘For immediate attention’ so that the office staff will know that the letter must be passed on quickly.

Chiltern Wood Governing Body

Our governing body is made up of: three Parent Governors elected by the parents, one Staff Governors elected by the staff, the Headteacher, one Local Authority governor nominated by the local authority and appointed by the governing body and seven co-opted governors appointed by the governing body. Please see their profiles below. 

Become a school governor

Chiltern Wood School is looking for new governors to join our board.

We welcome expressions of interest from anyone interested in school governance. If you have experience in finance, education, HR, IT, or property and estates management, that’s a bonus but not essential. What’s most important is a willingness to learn and contribute.

Chiltern Wood serves a wonderfully diverse community, and we would also be keen to hear from people who can help us better reflect and understand the families we serve.

Governors are expected to attend up to six full governing board meetings a year. These are held in the evenings on a Wednesday. They are also asked to attend up to three sub committee meetings a year which are held during the day. We also ask governors to partner with one of our departments and to visit them occasionally throughout the year. We are an inclusive board and aim to be flexible to people’s situation (e.g. hybrid meetings, opportunities to contribute outside of meetings).

Chiltern Wood School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All governor appointments are subject to an Enhanced DBS check.

If you are potentially interested, please send a short email providing your name, contact details, and a paragraph about your motivation to join us.

office@chilternwood.bucks.sch.uk

You may also find it useful to read information from the National Governors Association about what the role involves.