In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, every state school has to have a Governing Body.

If you would like to contact one of our Governors, please email office@arnoldmill.notts.sch.uk and they will forward any communication to the relevant Governor. 

The Governing Body is a committee of volunteers made up of the school staff, parents of children at the school, representatives of the local authority and members of the community.  

The governing body provides strategic leadership and accountability in the school by:

• Helping set the aims and objectives for the school

• Setting the policies for achieving those aims and objectives

• Setting the targets for achieving those aims and objectives

• Monitoring and evaluating the progress the school is making to achieve its aims and objectives

• Being a source of challenge and support to the head teacher and senior leadership team

• Promoting the interest of the school in the wider community

Governing bodies have to meet at least once a term and their considerations are wide ranging, so at Arnold Mill, the governing body members spread the work into committee meetings for:

• Finance & Resources – each term, to discuss the School’s budget and staff

• Strategic and Pastoral – each term, to discuss the School’s strategy, policies & performance

• Behaviour and Attendance – annually, to review the discipline statistics and policies

• Pay - annually, to review pay grades and policies

• Recommendations and minutes of the committees are then reviewed / approved at a Full Governing Body Meeting, held each term

Each governor is also allocated an area of responsibility and Key Stage Phase. During the academic year, they have to come into school to reflect on their allotted subject and to visit their year groups. 

Even as volunteers, we are accountable to Ofsted for our actions.

How can you become a governor?

It is normal practice that the school’s head teacher has to be on the governing body, whilst the remaining staff members have to be elected by their peers. When there is a vacancy, parents of children at the school can put their name forward for membership, and should there be more than one candidate, they too, have to face an election, this time by other parents. Volunteer community governors are appointed by the remaining governing body members, whilst the local authority can nominate their members.

Arnold Mill has a governing body consisting of the following members: