The Live Wire

Manifesto

What is the National Governors’ Council?

The National Governors’ Council (NGC) seeks to represent the views of all governors of maintained schools in England at national level. We are a membership organisation; the membership comprising independent local associations in Local Education Authority (LEA) areas. The associations represent the views of individual school governing bodies at the local level, supported by NGC in the national arena.

Who are School Governors and what do they do?

School governors are the largest volunteer group in the country and are drawn from all walks of life. What governors share is a passionate belief that all children deserve to have access to effective schools.

School governing bodies are established by law as corporate bodies. Their main responsibility is to determine the aims and overall conduct of the school with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement. The specific duties of governing bodies include, setting staffing levels, appointing headteachers, setting and agreeing the school budget, ensuring that a broad and balanced curriculum is delivered, as well as monitoring health and safety and the management of premises.

The governing body has strategic responsibility for planning within the school; implementation and management is the role of the headteacher and staff.

Where Does NGC stand?

  • There are over 300,000 governors in England shouldering, as part of their governing body, significant responsibilities. It is vital that this important stakeholder group has a national voice. NGC is that voice.
  • NGC promotes the work of governors at the national level. We work closely with Government and the other major educational bodies to ensure that the views of governors are fully represented in the national arena.
  • NGC works to ensure that governors have access to the information and resources they require to carry out their functions. Information should be provided in all mediums to ensure equality of access.
  • Government claims to value the work of governors, but NGC has concerns that the Five Year strategy document (published in July 2004) could erode both the role of governing bodies as the critical friend of their school and the accountability of governing bodies to their local community.

This document sets out NGC’s principles on the major education issues.

National Governors' Association

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