Role of the Head teacher and Governors
The partnership in practice – who does what?
Area |
Headteacher (HT) |
Governing body (GB) |
Overall responsibilities | Runs the school on a daily basis
Advises governors HT is the main influence on GB’s decisions |
Determines the aims, ethos and priorities of the school
Critical friend Delegates to the head the power to run the school |
Planning and policy making | HT or senior leadership team (SLT) does the nitty-gritty work of formulating the plan
Drafts the detailed action plans |
Involved in planning discussions and decisions through its committees
Agrees the final school improvement plan (SIP) Ratifies whole school policies |
Curriculum | Supplies the information and advice and basically produces the curriculum plan | Determines curricular policy and agrees the curriculum |
Staffing | Draws up the initial staffing plan based on the school’s needs | Decides the complement of staff
Decides what proportion of the overall budget should be spent on staff |
Appointments | Manages the appointment process, e.g. draws up job descriptions, organises the day in school and timetable for | Has responsibility for managing appointments
In maintained schools the GB is the employer GB should work within the agreed criteria |
Finance | Produces the budget headings
Manages the school’s spending |
GB is responsible for approving and monitoring the budget
GB monitors the school’s financial management |
Salaries | Interprets the regulations for the governors | Determines salary levels for all members of staff
Ratifies the statutory pay policy |
Personnel | Day to day management of staff | GB deals with personnel issues |