The Governing Body of Thorpe Lea Primary School is comprised of a group of volunteers, both from within the school community (staff and parents) and the wider community, with an interest in the education of the children of Thorpe Lea.

The Governing Body’s work focuses on three core strategic functions:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction.
• Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils.
• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

Governors work together and with the Senior Leadership Team, to ensure the best possible education for all the children in our school, enabling them to realise and achieve their potential at each and every stage of their journey, in accordance with the mission statement of the School:

“A dedicated community working together, nurturing a safe, happy school where all children can achieve their potential.”

The Full Governing Body meets half-termly, with an additional business meeting at the start of each academic year. Members of the public (including school staff and parents) can request to attend a Full Governing Body as observers by following the “Open Meeting Protocol”. This protocol constitutes the code of conduct required by the governing body in return for granting access to their meetings.

Full governing body meetings receive reports from the Headteacher, consider the latest performance data and feedback, ensure that all policies and procedures are in place, that the schools finances are being used effectively and appropriately, that relevant audits are taking place, that the schools have the resources required to do their job effectively, that the premises are suitable and very importantly, that the safeguarding of the children is appropriate.

In addition, governors take on other areas of responsibility e.g. Special Educational Needs or Safeguarding. We will be developing other specific roles in the coming academic year.

Governors visit the schools regularly, undertaking learning walks, talking to staff and reporting back to the governing body on the progress they have seen. Governors also attend regular training sessions to keep them appraised of national and local developments in education and to keep their general governance knowledge up to date.

The Governing Body can be contacted in writing through the school office or the Chair of Governors can be contacted at Chair@Thorpe-Lea.surrey.sch.uk