What is a Governor?
School governors are volunteers who want to make a positive contribution to children's education. As one of the country’s largest volunteer groups, governors have a crucial role in school improvement and accountability.
The school is accountable to the governing body, which in turn is accountable to parents and the community, the Local Authority – in our case Oxfordshire County Council – and ultimately to OFSTED.
It is the job of the governing body to act as a “critical friend”, providing the right balance of support and challenge to both the Headteacher and the school.
At Long Furlong, our governing board includes 13 members in the following categories:
- Headteacher (Ex Officio)
- Staff Governor (elected by school staff)
- Local Authority Governor (appointed by Oxfordshire County Council)
- Co-opted Governors (six, selected from the community for their skills)
- Parent Governors (four, elected by parents)
Governors come from diverse backgrounds, including parents, staff, local residents, and business or church representatives, bringing a rich mix of perspectives and expertise.