Purpose of the Local Governing Body

St John Plessington Catholic College is part of Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust and belongs to the Diocese of Shrewsbury.

The Trust Board is the legally accountable body for all academies within the Trust. The Local Governing Body supports the Trust Board by providing focused governance and oversight at school level, in accordance with the Trust’s Scheme of Delegation.

Governors work in partnership with the Diocese of Shrewsbury, the Trust, the Headteacher and the school’s leadership team. Their central purpose is to preserve and develop the Catholic character of the school while helping to secure the highest possible standards of education, formation, safeguarding and wellbeing for every pupil.

Governors act collectively and provide both support and constructive challenge. They do not become involved in the day-to-day management of the school, which is the responsibility of the Headteacher and senior leaders.

The Local Governing Body supports the strategic leadership of the school by:

• Ensuring that Christ is at the centre of the school and that its Catholic mission, vision and values are evident in all aspects of school life
• Supporting the development of the school’s strategic direction and improvement priorities
• Promoting high expectations and excellent outcomes for all pupils
• Ensuring particular consideration is given to disadvantaged pupils, pupils with SEND and those who may be vulnerable
• Reviewing progress against the School Development Plan
• Contributing to the development and review of key school policies
• Supporting the Trust in ensuring that resources, staffing and finances are used effectively
• Promoting the wellbeing, formation and professional development of pupils and staff

Governors provide support and constructive challenge by monitoring and evaluating:

• The Catholic life and mission of the school
• The quality of religious education and collective worship
• The quality of education and the effectiveness of the curriculum
• Pupils’ attainment, progress and wider development
• Attendance, behaviour, safeguarding and pupil wellbeing
• Provision for disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND
• The implementation and impact of the School Development Plan
• The effectiveness of leadership at all levels
• The school’s engagement with parents, parishes and the wider community

Governors help to ensure accountability by:

• Holding the Headteacher and senior leaders to account for the educational and pastoral performance of the school
• Reviewing the school’s self-evaluation and improvement priorities
• Monitoring progress against agreed objectives and performance measures
• Receiving and responding appropriately to reports from the Trust, Diocese, Catholic School Inspectorate and Ofsted
• Ensuring that statutory duties and delegated responsibilities are fulfilled
• Seeking assurance that safeguarding arrangements are effective
• Ensuring that the views of pupils, parents, staff and the wider community are considered appropriately
• Reporting to the Trust Board in accordance with the Scheme of Delegation

Catholic Governance

Catholic school governance is a ministry of service to the Church and to the school community. Governors are expected to support and promote the Bishop’s vision for Catholic education within the Diocese of Shrewsbury.

Foundation governors are appointed on behalf of the Bishop. They have a particular responsibility to preserve and develop the Catholic character of the school and to ensure that its work remains faithful to the teachings, mission and values of the Catholic Church.

All governors, regardless of how they are appointed or elected, share a collective responsibility for the success and wellbeing of the whole school.

The Role of a Governor

To carry out their role effectively, governors are expected to:

• Support and uphold the Catholic mission, vision and values of the school
• Place the interests and wellbeing of pupils at the centre of decision-making
• Attend meetings regularly and prepare thoroughly
• Ask appropriately challenging questions and seek assurance from school leaders
• Maintain confidentiality and act with honesty, integrity and objectivity
• Declare any conflicts of interest
• Participate in relevant training and development
• Visit the school in an agreed and purposeful capacity
• Engage with the life of the school and its Catholic community
• Monitor and evaluate their own effectiveness
• Work positively with fellow governors, school leaders, the Trust and the Diocese

Collective Responsibility

The Local Governing Body is a corporate body. This means that:

• Individual governors cannot act independently on behalf of the Local Governing Body unless they have been given specific authority to do so
• Decisions are made collectively, and governors share responsibility for agreed decisions
• Governors appointed or elected through different routes have an equal responsibility to act in the best interests of the school as a whole
• Governors must respect the distinction between strategic governance and the operational responsibilities of the Headteacher
• Governors are accountable to the Trust Board for fulfilling the responsibilities delegated to them

Through faithful service, constructive challenge and effective oversight, our governors help St John Plessington Catholic College remain true to its mission:

“To build an inclusive Catholic community founded on the Gospel values.”