Introduction:

This policy supports the work of the school in promoting its mission statement, aims and values.

 

Mission statement

Like a lighthouse, St Michael’s is a beacon of safety and stability. It takes courage to learn and remember knowledge, develop new skills and allow your own light to shine in the world. We respect our differences and know that working peacefully together allows our lights to shine more brightly.

‘Let your light shine’  Matthew 5:16

 

School aims:

At St Michael’s we value every member of our school community and our aims reflect those of ‘Every Child Matters’, which is for every child, whatever their background or circumstances, to have the support they need to:

• Develop their understanding of the value of leading a healthy lifestyle
• Work and play in a secure and safe environment in which they are encouraged to develop moral values and mutual respect
• Experience an exciting curriculum which fosters their enthusiasm, develops an enquiring mind and enables every child to achieve his/her full potential
• Access an education for life where they are able to learn how to become effective and reliable members of the wider community
• Foster ambition and expectation to carry through to adult life

To achieve these aims all learners, staff, parents and governors will work together to promote our core values of caring, happiness, understanding and compassion, responsibility, working together and perseverance.

 

Without a good knowledge of the school it is impossible to govern effectively.  In order to assist and inform their governance, governors at St Michael’s School will visit the school on a regular basis, insofar as their own commitments allow.  This may include, but need not be restricted to:

 

• attendance at and/or participation in assemblies;
• attendance at sports days or at other sports events;
• attendance at celebrations such as awards ceremonies;
• attendance at and/or participation in school council meetings;
• attendance at and/or participation in school self review meetings;
• visiting classes/participating in lessons (as agreed with the headteacher and individual teachers in appropriate circumstances);
• assisting in any areas in which they might be individually skilled.

 

Governors with special responsibilities will also visit the school as required to enable them to fulfil their roles effectively.  Governor responsibilities are agreed and regularly reviewed by the Full Governing Body.

 

When visiting the school, governors will agree in advance a mutually convenient time and duration for the visit with the headteacher and (where appropriate) other members of staff affected and will make every effort to minimise any disruption caused by their visit.  When visiting the school governors will sign and date the governor visits book and indicate the purpose of their visit.  Throughout visits governors and staff will do all they can to further positive and mutually supportive relationships between staff and governors.  Governors will feed back to the full governing body, through a visit report, outcomes from their visits.  It would be good practice to share this feedback with the Headteacher as soon as possible after the visit and in advance of the meeting.

 

Governors accept that the day to day management of the school is the responsibility of the headteacher.  Included within the Headteacher’s responsibility is that of ensuring pupils receive high quality teaching, and governors accept that it is not appropriate for them to conduct visits with a view to forming judgements on the quality of teaching and learning within the school.  However, governors should have access to monitoring information regarding the quality of teaching and learning within the school and the headteacher and governors should agree effective ways of involving governors in School Improvement Partner visits and reporting the outcome of these meetings to the Governing Body.

 

When visiting school during the school day governors will be aware of safeguarding and confidentiality issues in their interactions with pupils.

 

The headteacher and staff accept that, while governors do not have an automatic right to enter the school, it is appropriate for governors to do so and will not unreasonably refuse a request made to visit the school.  The headteacher is committed to involving governors in the life of the school and will provide them with sufficient information about school events and activities to facilitate this.

 

Please use the Governor Visits and Working Party Form for all visits to the school.