Who are the school governors and what do they do?

Governors play an important part in overseeing the running of the school in the interests of the community it serves.  Governors govern rather than manage.  The Governing Body is made up of a cross-section of the local community and includes parent representatives of children at the school.

North Downs’s governors have been elected and co-opted into the Governing Body.  Parents and carers are actively encouraged to talk to governors and put forward any views, comments and opinions that you may have about the school.  Should you wish to contact our Chair of Governors, you can do so by contacting our Clerk, Amy Currier, using the following email address: clerk@northdowns.surrey.sch.uk

School governors are volunteers who want to make a positive contribution to children’s education. They do not need to be education experts or have formal qualifications.

Becoming a School Governor

The most effective governors are those who:

• listen, think and ask questions;
• believe that education is important;
• take an interest in the role of schools in the community;
• can work with others and assimilate a wide range of information and data;
• have a willingness to learn;
• have sound communication skills;
• are prepared to give time to doing the job well.

Being a School Governor

Governors are one of the largest volunteer forces in the country and have an important part to play in raising school standards. The role of the Governing Body is absolutely key to the effectiveness of a school. Time and time again, Ofsted (the national inspection body for schools) has noted that the most effective schools demonstrate effective leadership and management – including by the Governing Body.