Local Governing Boards - provide school-level oversight and support.

What is a Local Governor?

Local Governors are responsible for supporting, challenging, and monitoring the work of our schools, working in partnership with the Trust Board to uphold the highest standards. Key responsibilities include:

• Monitoring the school’s educational performance and pupil outcomes against its school improvement plan.
• Contributing to the review of school and Trust policies.
• Ensuring the school complies with statutory requirements.
• Acting as a critical friend to the school leadership team.
• Supporting community engagement and accountability.
• Undertaking additional responsibility, such as key link roles and/or participating in governance panels.

Purpose and Remit

Local Governors help ensure that:

• Decisions are made in the best interests of pupils.
• The school’s ethos, vision, and values are upheld.
• Resources are used efficiently and effectively.
• The school is accountable to the local community and the Trust Board.

Effective governance aims to focus on impact and outcomes, understanding that governance is a collective responsibility, and thinking strategically, rather than operationally.

Aims

Our Local Governors aim to:

• Support high standards of teaching, learning, and leadership.
• Promote a safe, inclusive, and positive environment for all pupils.
• Strengthen links between the school, parents, and wider community.
• Help drive innovation and improvement through constructive oversight.

Governance Structure

Chulmleigh Academy Trust's governance includes:

• Members – the guardians of the Trust constitution.
• Trust Board – oversee the overall governance of the Trust.
• Committees of the Trust Board – delegated to carry out some of the Trust’s governance functions.
• Local Governing Boards – provide school level oversight and support.

 

Membership of Each Local Governing Board

• The Head of School
• Elected Governors
  i)  Up to two parent members
  ii) One staff member
• Elected Governors
  i)   Up to four community governors for non-church schools
  ii)  Up to two community governors for church schools
  iii) Up to two foundation governors for church schools

Who Can Apply

You don’t need to be an education expert to become a Local Governor. We value a broad range of skills, experiences, and perspectives.

We welcome applications from parents and carers, staff members, professionals from any sectors, community leaders, individuals from diverse backgrounds and under-represented groups, and local church representatives.

We are looking for individuals who are:

• Passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people.
• Able to ask thoughtful, constructive questions.
• Willing to offer support and appropriate challenge.
• Committed to equality, inclusion and high standards.
• Good listeners and effective communicators.
• Team players who respect collective decision-making.
• Discreet and able to handle confidential information.
• Reliable, and able to commit time for meetings, school visits, and training.
• Bring relevant skills, knowledge, or experience (finance, HR, safeguarding, curriculum, leadership, education, etc.)

How to Apply

Parent or Staff Governors

If you are interested in applying for a parent governor or staff governor position at your school, election letters inviting nominations for these positions will be sent out to the school community.

Community or Foundation Governors

If you are interested in applying for a community or foundation local governor role, please do submit an Expressions of Interest by email to the Clerk to Trustees: clerk@chulmleigh.devon.sch.uk.

Time Commitment and Meeting Attendance

Local Governors will meet once every half term, in-person at the school, usually after school hours.

Local Governors will prepare for all meetings in advance by reading the agenda and papers circulated to the board one week before the meeting via the governance portal Governor Hub.

Local Governors may also be required to undertake occasional school visits with an agreed remit or focus and attend training sessions.

Training and Support

Don’t worry- you won’t be expected to know everything before you start! We will provide:

• Induction programme for all new local governors
• Access to ongoing training
• Support from the Trust’s governance clerk and school leadership

Contact / More Information

If you have any further questions, please do contact our Clerk to Trustees by email: clerk@chulmleigh.devon.sch.uk

We are currently building strong, skilled, diverse governing boards that reflect and serve our communities. If you care about education, want to make a meaningful difference, and are ready to contribute your experience and perspective, we would love to hear from you! For further information please download the Governance Leaflet below: